Converge Worldwide (BGC)

Converge Worldwide (BGC)

11002 Lake Hart Dr.
Mail Code 200
Orlando, FL 32832
United States

Attesting Officer
James Elmore
President


28.4016658, -81.2097965


The Baptist General Conference, is now called Converge Worldwide, rooted in the pietistic movement of Sweden during the 19th century, traces its history to Aug. 13, 1852. On that day a small group of believers at Rock Island, Illinois, under the leadership of Gustaf Palmquist, organized the first Swedish Baptist Church in America. Swedish Baptist churches flourished in the upper Midwest and Northeast, and by 1879, when the first annual meeting was held in Village Creek, Iowa, 65 churches had been organized, stretching from Maine to the Dakotas and south to Kansas and Missouri.
By 1871, John Alexis Edgren, an immigrant sea captain and pastor in Chicago, had begun the first publication and a theological seminary. The Conference grew to 324 churches and nearly 26,000 members by 1902. There were 40,000 members in 1945 and in 2010 they have over 1100 churches.
Many churches began as Sunday schools. The seminary evolved into Bethel, a four-year liberal arts university with 2,300 students, and theological seminaries in Arden Hills, Minnesota. and San Diego, California. Missions and the planting of churches have been main objectives both in America and overseas. Today churches have been established in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as twenty-four countries overseas. In 1985 the churches of Canada founded an autonomous denomination, The Baptist General Conference of Canada.
Converge Worldwide is a member of the Baptist World Alliance, the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs and the National Association of Evangelicals. It is characterized by the balancing of a conservative doctrine with an irenic and cooperative spirit. Its basic objective is to seek the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2009
16,000
1,100
2007
147,500
147,500
1,071
2003
145,148
145,148
902
2002
145,148
193,160
145,148
902
2001
143,200
202,690
143,200
1999
142,871
142,871
880
1998
141,445
141,445
876
1997
134,795
134,795
879
1996
136,120
136,120
875
1995
135,008
135,008
857
1994
135,128
135,128
813
1992
134,658
134,658
821
1991
134,717
134,717
799
1990
133,742
133,742
792
1989
135,125
135,125
789
1987
131,480
131,480
762
1986
132,546
132,546
753
1985
130,193
130,193
735
1984
128,913
128,913
732
1982
129,928
129,928
721
1981
127,662
127,662
715
1980
133,385
133,385
779
1979
126,800
126,800
701
1978
131,000
131,000
772
1977
120,222
120,222
665
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2009
1,100
525
2007
1,066
1994
813
1,248
1992
1,200
1,700
1991
1,200
1,700
1990
1,200
1,700
1989
1,200
1,700
1987
1,200
1,700
1986
1,070
1,560
1985
1,040
1,526
1984
1,030
1,470
1982
964
1,146
1981
842
1,227
1980
833
1,216
1979
980
1,325
1978
0
1,002
1977
692
991
1976
670
959
1975
733
1,023
1974
780
1,055
1973
760
1,020
1972
773
1,032
1971
768
1,032
1970
673
919
1969
650
1,006
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2003
65,735
2002
65,735
1997
145,347
0
1995
857
76,511
1994
813
0
1992
0
81,896
1991
799
79,181
1990
792
78,453
1989
789
67,030
1987
762
74,611
1986
753
78,668
1985
735
82,208
1984
732
89,174
1982
721
96,543
1981
715
103,684
1980
710
106,241
1979
701
110,379
1978
772
118,310
1977
665
111,896
1976
669
116,328
1975
653
118,499
1974
632
115,646
1973
625
113,301
1972
686
120,453
1971
681
119,192
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2009
$11,879,400
2002
$199,021,386
2001
$22,572,695
$22,572,695
1999
$23,322,007
$23,322,007
1998
$22,959,049
$22,959,049
1997
$22,784,518
$22,784,518
$0
1996
$21,018,011
$140,481,506
$119,463,495
1995
$22,875,038
$156,089,394
$133,214,356
1992
$23,359,695
$123,112,848
$99,753,153
1991
$21,158,446
$123,180,155
$102,021,709
1990
$19,768,222
$114,900,024
$95,131,802
1989
$18,386,218
$106,633,730
$88,247,512
1987
1986
$15,658,371
$95,623,850
$79,965,479
1984
$14,926,465
$81,376,902
$66,450,437
1983
$12,951,470
$67,360,787
$54,409,317
1981
$11,832,680
$65,331,939
$53,499,259
1979
$8,712,255
$53,129,573
$44,417,318
1977
$6,764,787
$41,167,178
$34,402,391
1976
$6,346,561
$34,067,008
$27,720,447
1975
$6,118,075
$32,280,754
$26,162,679
1974
$5,297,488
$32,123,014
$26,825,526
1973
$4,817,444
$28,041,891
$23,224,447
1972
$5,076,433
$26,448,368
$21,371,935
1970
$3,836,884
$21,786,796
$17,949,912