AMERICAN BAPTIST CONVENTION

Established in 1908 as the Northern Baptist Convention, ABC was headquartered in Valley Forge in 1960. All foreign missions, home missions, education, and publication work, and all denominational offices except the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board were housed under one roof. In 1973 the name was changed to American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.

A general board consists of about two hundred members made up of clergy, layment and women. By 1983, black Baptists comprised fully one-third of ABC and women outnumbered men in the membership. The entire body meets biennially dealing mostly with inspiration and fellowship, leaving most actualy policy decisions to the general board. A trend has shifted focus from personal redemption to evangelistic social ministries. For a short while a small charismatic movement grew within the ABC but has since declined within the tolerant Baptist denomination.

NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION

Founded in 1886, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest African American religious convention with an estimated membership of 7.5 million.

The nature of this convention is defined by its ideal of voluntary membership and participation at both the organization and individual member levels. As such, the Convention does not prescribe nor exercise administrative or doctrinal control over any of its membership; these matters are left for the attention of local organization and church authorities. The strength of the Convention lies in its ability to harness and coordinate and network the resources and efforts of its membership to accomplish goals greater than those that could be accomplished in isolation. For this reason, the Convention has enjoyed the devoted participation and support of many churches and individuals throughout its history.

NJ STATE BAPTIST CONVENTION

There are 62 State Baptist Conventions that have registered voluntarily with the Convention. The State Conventions are autonomous organizations, separately incorporated that voluntarily join the Convention. Each of the State Conventions is supported by the voluntary membership of churches, district associations, and individuals in the state that may or may not also hold membership in the national Convention.

The New Jersey State Convention is a community of believers dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission through worship, discipleship and evangelism. Its members desire to have the Convention involved in making disciples for Jesus Christ first in its own Churches and Communities, secondly in its Associations, and then in the convention and the communities where they meet. Members seek to reach people for Jesus Christ through High-Quality, People-Oriented ministries.

MIDDLESEX BAPTIST CONVENTION

The mission of the Middlesex Central Baptist Convention is to create, make accessible and maintain a Christian environment within which salvation can be attained and sustained until the day of the Lord’s coming. The mission is achieved through relevant programs, services, sermons, Christian education, and fellowship that focuses on Education, Evangelism, and Mission. Membership territory includes Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties. The history of its membership is both a political and spiritual one.

Historically, by 1906 the spiritual and political future of African Americans depended upon the black Baptist Church becoming a site of both spiritual and political training. Middlesex Baptist Convention was organized to promote the program of Christ, Christian education, and Missionary work. NJ black Baptists grounded their Christian faith in a practical theology of political and social justice, a theology that secured for them political rights in this world and preparation for eternal bliss in the next.