# Progressive Baptists

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**Progressive Baptists** are a [Baptist](/source/Baptist) [Progressive Christian](/source/Progressive_Christianity) movement particularly committed to [social justice](/source/Social_justice) in the Church and in society. These commitments include defending [freedom of religion](/source/Freedom_of_religion), [rights of indigenous peoples](/source/Rights_of_indigenous_peoples), the [African American Rights](/source/U.S._Civil_Rights_Movement), [women's rights](/source/Women's_rights) and [LGBTQ rights](/source/LGBTQ_rights).

## History

### Freedom of religion and Indigenous rights

In 1612, Baptist minister [Thomas Helwys](/source/Thomas_Helwys) published *A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity*, a plea for [freedom of religion](/source/Freedom_of_religion) in England. [1] In 1635, Baptist minister [Roger Williams](/source/Roger_Williams) was thus banished from [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts) for his positions in favor of [separation of church and state](/source/Secularism), [freedom of religion](/source/Freedom_of_religion) and [Indigenous rights](/source/Indigenous_rights), which led him into conflicts with the colony's pastors and magistrates. [2] He bought land from the [Native Americans](/source/Native_Americans) and founded the city of [Providence](/source/Providence_(Rhode_Island)) in 1636, as well as the [Rhode Island](/source/Rhode_Island), where he became governor. In 1657, he welcomed [Quakers](/source/Quaker) suffering religious persecution in Massachusetts. [3]

### African Americans rights

Many Baptist leaders were involved in [abolitionism in the United States](/source/Abolitionism_in_the_United_States) of the 19th century. [4] In 1843, abolitionist Baptist pastors of [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts) met at [Boston](/source/Boston) [Tremont Temple](/source/Tremont_Temple) and founded the American and Foreign Mission Society in opposition to [slavery](/source/Slavery) in the South. [5] In 1872, the Society merged with the [American Baptist Missionary Union](/source/American_Baptist_Missionary_Union) of the [American Baptist Churches USA](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA). [6] In 1957, Baptist leaders lead by pastor [Martin Luther King Jr.](/source/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.) founded the [Southern Christian Leadership Conference](/source/Southern_Christian_Leadership_Conference) at [Ebenezer Baptist Church](/source/Ebenezer_Baptist_Church) of [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta) for [African Americans rights](/source/Civil_rights_movement) and the end of [racial segregation in the United States](/source/Racial_segregation_in_the_United_States). [7][8]

### Women's rights

In 1815, a [Free Baptist Church](/source/Free_Baptist_Church) in [New England](/source/New_England) ordained the first Baptist woman minister, [Clarissa Danforth](/source/Clarissa_Danforth). [9] In 1900, [Nannie Helen Burroughs](/source/Nannie_Helen_Burroughs) founded the Women's Convention of the [National Baptist Convention, USA](/source/National_Baptist_Convention,_USA) and campaigned for [women's rights](/source/Women's_rights), such as [women in the workforce](/source/Women_in_the_workforce) and [right to vote](/source/Women's_suffrage). [10] In 1965, the [American Baptist Churches USA](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA) adopted a resolution affirming [gender equality](/source/Gender_equality) and the [ordination of women](/source/Ordination_of_women_in_Christianity) in churches. [11]

### Rights of LGBTQ people

In May 1972, members of the [American Baptist Churches USA](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA) founded *American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities* and campaigned for [LGBTQ rights](/source/LGBTQ_rights). [12] In 1978, President [Jimmy Carter](/source/Jimmy_Carter), also a deacon of the [First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C.](/source/First_Baptist_Church_of_Washington,_D.C.) ([American Baptist Churches USA](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA)), urged California voters to reject the [Briggs Initiative](/source/Briggs_Initiative), aimed at banning LGBTQ people from teaching in public schools. [13] In 1992, [Pullen Memorial Baptist Church](/source/Pullen_Memorial_Baptist_Church) in [Raleigh, North Carolina](/source/Raleigh,_North_Carolina), celebrated the first [blessing of same-sex union](/source/Blessing_of_same-sex_unions_in_Christian_churches) in a Baptist Church. [14] In 1993, members of the [American Baptist Churches USA](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA) founded the [Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists](/source/Association_of_Welcoming_and_Affirming_Baptists) in [San Jose, California](/source/San_Jose,_California). [15] (The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists merged with the Affirming Network of the [Cooperative Baptist Fellowship](/source/Cooperative_Baptist_Fellowship) in 2024.[16]) In 1996, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland,_California) ordained the first openly gay Baptist minister, Randle R. Mixon. [17] In 2004, [Coretta Scott King](/source/Coretta_Scott_King), founder of the [Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change](/source/Martin_Luther_King_Jr._Center_for_Nonviolent_Social_Change), affirms her support for [same-sex marriage](/source/Same-sex_marriage) at an academic conference at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. [18]In November 2022, [Eastern University](/source/Eastern_University_(United_States)) in [St. Davids, Pennsylvania](/source/St._Davids,_Pennsylvania) affiliated with the [American Baptist Churches USA](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA), added sexual orientation to its anti-discrimination policy, allowing the hiring of openly LGBTQ employees. [19]

## References

1. Stephen R. Holmes, *Baptist Theology*, T&T Clark, UK, 2012, p. 112-120

1. William H. Brackney, *Historical Dictionary of the Baptists*, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 608

1. Peter C. Holloran, *Historical Dictionary of New England*, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2017, p. 417

1. William H. Brackney, *Historical Dictionary of the Baptists*, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 302

1. W. Glenn Jonas Jr., *The Baptist River: Essays on Many Tributaries of a Diverse Tradition*, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 31-32

1. William H. Brackney, *Historical Dictionary of the Baptists*, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 15

1. Christian Smith, *Disruptive Religion: The Force of Faith in Social Movement Activism*, Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2014, p. 35

1. Timothy J. Williams, [Evangelical Christians are on the left too](https://theconversation.com/evangelical-christians-are-on-the-left-too-66253), theconversation.com, USA, October 17, 2016

1. Rosemary Skinner Keller, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Marie Cantlon, *Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America, Volume 1*, Indiana University Press, USA, 2006, p. 294

1. Immanuel Ness, *Encyclopedia of American Social Movements*, Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2015, p. 331

1. Robert E. Johnson, *A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches*, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 372

1. Bill J. Leonard, *Baptists in America*, Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 242

1. Matt Lavietes, [Carter was the first president to move the needle, albeit slowly, on gay rights](https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/jimmy-carter-early-progress-gay-rights-political-climate-rcna93119), nbcnews.com, December 30, 2024

1. Jeff Brumley, [30 years later, North Carolina Baptist church recalls its journey to affirm same-sex unions](https://baptistnews.com/article/30-years-later-north-carolina-baptist-church-recalls-its-journey-to-affirm-same-sex-unions/), baptistnews.com, March 8, 2022

1. William H. Brackney, *Historical Dictionary of the Baptists*, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 603

1. Jeff Brumley, [AWAB and CBF’s Affirming Network merge](https://baptistnews.com/article/awab-and-cbfs-affirming-network-merge/), Baptist News Global, USA, June 17, 2024

1. Andrew Gardner, *Binkley: A Congregational History*, Univ. of Tennessee Press, USA, 2023, p. 111

1. ["Coretta's Big Dream: Coretta Scott King on Gay Rights"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coretta-scott-king_b_2592049). *The Huffington Post*. January 31, 2013.

1. Yonat Shimron, [Eastern University on hold from CCCU after dropping ban on LGBTQ faculty](https://religionnews.com/2022/11/14/eastern-university-drops-ban-on-lgbtq-faculty/), religionnews.com, November 14, 2022

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