Abbreviation ABA Theology Evangelical Baptist President Randy Cloud | Classification Protestant Polity Congregational | |
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Region Worldwide, primarily the United States | ||
The American Baptist Association (ABA), formed by a merger of two related groups in 1924, is an association of Baptist churches. The principal founder was Ben M. Bogard, a pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. ABA headquarters, including its bookstore and publishing house, Bogard Press, is based in Texarkana, Texas.
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Geographical distribution
In 2009, the American Baptist Association reported 1,600 congregations and 100,000 members. The largest number of associated churches are in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and on the west coast, with churches also in most of the United States. The association also has a presence in several countries outside the United States, most notably Mexico and the Philippine Islands.
Missionary Baptist Seminary
After the Missionary Baptist College in Sheridan closed due to economic woes of the Great Depression in May 1934, Dr. Conrad N. Glover, along with Dr. Ben M. Bogard and Dr. J. Louis Guthrie made plans to develop a new seminary. In September 1934, the Missionary Baptist Seminary was started out of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Conrad N. Glover was the First President of the seminary, with Dr. J. Louis Guthrie as Vice President. Dr. Ben M. Bogard, pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Little Rock, Arkansas at that time, was elected Dean of the school. In May 1979, the Seminary relocated to Stagecoach Road in Little Rock, and has remained there since. The current President of the seminary is Carroll Koon, who is also the current pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.