General Association of General Baptists

General Association of General Baptists

100 Stinson Dr.
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
United States

Attesting Officer
Dr. James Murray
Interim Executive Director


Media Contact
Interim Exec. Dir., Dr. James W. Murray

36.804001, -90.457756


Similar in doctrine to those General Baptists organized in England in the 17th century, the first General Baptist churches were organized on the Midwest frontier following the Second Great Awakening. The first church was established by the Rev. Benoni Stinson in 1823 at Evansville, Ind.
Stinson's major theological emphasis was general atonement - Christ tasted death for every man. The group also allows for the possibility of apostasy. It practices open Communion and believer's baptism by immersion.
Called "liberal" Baptists because of their emphasis on the freedom of man, General Baptists organized a General Association in 1870 and invited other "liberal" Baptists (e.g., "Free Will" and Separate Baptists) to participate.
The policy-setting body is composed of delegates from local General Baptist churches and associations. Each local church is autonomous but belongs to an association. The group currently consists of more than 60 associations in 16 states, as well as associations in the Philippines, Guam, Saipan, Jamaica, Honduras, and India. Ministers and deacons are ordained by a presbytery.
The denomination operates Oakland City University in Oakland City, Indiana, and Nursing Homes in Illinois and Missouri. General Baptists belong to the Baptist World Alliance, the North American Baptist Fellowship and the National Association of Evangelicals.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2010
61,040
32,641
61,040
1,154
2009
45,721
45,721
900
2007
46,242
46,242
562
2006
52,279
62
52,279
840
2005
60,559
48
60,559
604
2003
63,549
41
17,953
81,502
700
2001
66,296
42
0
66,296
715
1998
67,314
45
67,314
719
1997
72,326
72,326
790
1996
67,581
67,881
830
1990
74,156
74,156
876
1989
73,738
73,738
872
1988
74,086
74,086
868
1987
73,515
73,515
879
1986
72,263
72,263
871
1985
73,040
73,040
875
1984
75,028
75,028
866
1983
75,133
75,133
860
1981
0
75,028
870
1980
74,159
74,159
894
1979
73,046
73,046
866
1977
0
72,000
867
1974
0
70,000
800
1973
70,000
70,000
834
1971
65,000
65,000
845
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2010
995
2009
800
2006
1,012
1,012
2005
1,012
1,012
2003
1,069
170
0
1,239
2001
1,133
0
192
1,325
1998
780
141
921
1997
1,085
1,228
1996
798
2,082
1990
1,384
1,384
1989
0
1,477
1988
0
1,483
1987
0
1,527
1986
0
1,444
1985
0
1,524
1984
0
1,476
1983
0
1,398
1981
0
1,373
1980
0
1,349
1979
0
1,309
1977
0
1,320
1974
1,000
1,125
1973
850
1,200
1971
1,000
1,115
1969
0
1,045
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2009
900
2007
562
2006
840
2005
604
10,686
10,686
2003
1,092
0
20,792
20,792
2001
715
0
23,824
23,824
1998
719
34,163
34,163
1997
832
37,906
1996
750
6,500
1973
834
80,800
1971
854
80,500
1969
800
80,000
1968
834
90,000
1967
830
78,000
1966
844
82,500
1965
830
15,000
60,000
75,000
1964
814
5,830
55,400
61,230
1963
810
5,800
55,200
61,000
1962
805
5,800
55,200
61,000
1961
770
7,000
93,000
100,000
1960
760
10,000
100,000
110,000
1959
738
3,250
76,750
80,000
1958
750
3,250
76,750
80,000
1956
722
3,250
76,750
80,000
1955
700
3,250
66,750
70,000
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2010
$4,151,370
$36,601,775
2009
$4,087,132
$33,520,716
$2,105,841
$2,105,841
2007
$4,206,088
$31,385,133
$27,179,045
$27,179,045
2006
$2,048,570
$2,048,570
2005
$5,080,612
2003
$2,846,173
$35,428,127
$32,581,954
2001
$2,950,915
$36,372,128
$33,421,213
1998
$2,593,004
$35,134,293
$32,541,289
1997
$1,780,851
$29,874,795
$28,093,944
1989
$1,768,804
$24,896,639
$23,127,835
1988
$1,731,299
$22,949,350
$21,218,051
1987
$1,789,578
$22,640,405
$20,850,827
1986
$1,883,826
$21,627,091
$19,743,265
1985
$1,683,130
$20,199,382
$18,516,252
1984
$1,729,228
$19,328,397
$17,599,169
1983
$1,733,755
$19,017,014
$17,283,259
1981
1980
$1,547,038
$16,514,350
$14,967,312
1979
$1,218,763
$14,350,108
$13,131,345
1977
1968
$215,000
$3,215,000
$3,000,000
1917
$64,698