United Baptist - Status

Status

The most prominently recognizable United Baptists are the unaffiliated local associations of churches that have remained separate and distinct from affiliation with any national or general organizations. The Churches and Church Membership in the United States 1990 survey found over 54,000 members in 436 churches and 24 associations. Approximately 27 such associations exist in the United States, and fall roughly into three groups:

  1. United Baptist (General), some Arminian-oriented, open communion bodies that fellowship with other bodies (that are moderately Calvinistic and closed communion). The common factor is style of worship;
  2. United Baptist (Landmark), moderately Calvinistic closed communion bodies that once nominally cooperated with the Southern Baptist Convention;
  3. United Baptist (Regular), primitivistic closed communion bodies that were early in opposition to Baptist missionary and educational enterprises, but that remained aloof from the Primitive Baptists. The largest concentration of these churches is in Kentucky.

The following associations are believed to exist in 2003:

  • United Baptist (General)
    • Ancient Christian (IN, KY, OH)
    • Bethel (MO)
    • Bethlehem (WV)
    • Central Missouri (MO)
    • Centerpoint (OH)
    • First Love (IN)
    • Friendship (IN)
    • New Bethel (OH)
    • Ohio Valley (OH, WV)
    • Tri-State (IN, KY, OH)
    • Union (AR)
  • United Baptist (Landmark)
    • Green River (KY)
    • South Concord (KY)
    • South Fork (KY)
    • Stockton Valley (TN)
    • West Union (TN)
  • United Baptist (Regular)
    • Blaine Union (KY)
    • Calvary (WV) - called "Regular United"
    • Iron Hill (KY)
    • Laurel River (KY)
    • Mt. Sion (WV) - called "Regular United"
    • Mt. Zion (KY)
    • New Hope (KY)
    • Paint Union (KY)
    • Old Bethlehem (WV)
    • Old Paint Union (KY)
    • Old Tri-State Zion (KY)- no longer in existence
    • Original Old Paint Union (KY) - No longer in existence
    • Red Bird River (KY)
    • Town Creek (AL)- "United Baptists of the Primitive Faith and Order"
    • Tri-State Zion (KY)
    • United (KY)
    • Union Bethlehem (WV)
    • Wills Creek (AL) - "United Baptists of the Primitive Faith and Order"
    • Wills Creek (AL)
    • Zion (KY)

These three sub-groups of United Baptists reflect differences in benevolences, (i.e. Sunday School) historical affiliations (i.e. Landmark) and worship styles (i.e. a cappella vs. musical instruments).

  • Three bodies nominally connected to the name United Baptist:
    • Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches - a union of Free Baptists and Regular Baptists
    • United American Free Will Baptist Church
    • United American Free Will Baptist Conference

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