What is the Baptist General Conference? Overview The Baptist General Conference—often associated today with the name “Converge”—is a fellowship of churches that originated in the United States among Swedish Baptist immigrants. Over time, this group has grown to encompass a broad, multiethnic fellowship of Baptist congregations focused on biblical teaching, missions, and evangelism. While it has changed in size, scope, and name, the commitment to core Baptist and evangelical doctrines remains constant. Historical Roots The movement’s beginnings trace back to the mid-19th century. Swedish immigrants seeking religious freedom and a faith community in America organized churches that emphasized personal conversion, believer’s baptism, and congregational church governance. • Foundation in the 19th Century: In the 1850s, Swedish Baptists in the Midwest formed loosely connected congregations. Over the years, they united to strengthen their ministries and resources for outreach. • Formation of a Conference: Initially known as the Swedish Baptist Conference, these churches formally organized in 1879. Their name changed to the Baptist General Conference in 1945 to broaden their identity beyond Swedish roots. • Transition to ‘Converge’: In 2008, the Baptist General Conference began operating under “Converge” as a contemporary name, though many churches still use “Baptist General Conference” to describe their affiliation. The new name seeks to emphasize unity and mission for a diverse constituency. Organizational Structure and Mission The conference functions as a fellowship of autonomous local congregations cooperating for the purpose of church planting, missions, denominational education, and pastoral support. Each local church retains significant authority in governance, reflecting historic Baptist polity. • Congregational Autonomy: Local congregations make their own decisions regarding worship style, pastoral leadership, and other local matters. The conference provides guidance while respecting each church’s self-governance. • Cooperative Efforts: Member churches partner through the conference for missions, ministerial training, publishing, youth and children’s ministries, and outreach initiatives. • Global Reach: Missionary efforts extend beyond North America to various parts of the world. Many of these endeavors focus on evangelism, church planting, and community development, fulfilling what is often referred to as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”). Doctrinal Beliefs Doctrinally, the Baptist General Conference adheres to core evangelical convictions and historic Baptist distinctives. These distinctives include the authority of Scripture, believer’s baptism by immersion, a personal conversion experience, and separation of church and state. • Biblical Authority: A key belief is that Scripture is inspired by God and relevant for all areas of life and doctrine. As 2 Timothy 3:16 teaches, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” • Salvation by Grace through Faith: Consistent with classic evangelical teaching, the conference emphasizes the centrality of Christ’s atoning death and resurrection as the basis for salvation. Ephesians 2:8–9 affirms, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” • Believer’s Baptism by Immersion: Baptism is practiced on the basis of a personal profession of faith. This immersion symbolizes the believer’s identification with the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3–4). • Congregational Polity: Decision-making power rests in the membership of each local church, reflecting the priesthood of all believers. Distinctive Practices In addition to their doctrinal commitments, Baptist General Conference churches reflect particular practices and emphases that shape the character of their ministries. • Church Planting: A strong emphasis is placed on starting new congregations both in North America and globally. These church-planting efforts aim to reach communities that have little biblical Gospel witness. • Evangelistic Outreach: Public proclamation of the good news about Christ is encouraged in a culturally relevant manner. Many churches develop programs and events designed to communicate faith in ways that resonate with local communities. • Inter-Church Fellowship: Conference events, leadership retreats, and pastors’ gatherings foster relationships, resource sharing, and spiritual accountability among churches. Missions and Evangelism From the earliest years, reaching people for Christ has been a driving force. Many local BGC churches support missionaries worldwide or send short-term teams to assist missionary projects. • Mission Agencies: The conference partners with mission agencies to train and send individuals and families into linguistic and cultural settings in need of the Gospel. • Holistic Ministry Approach: Alongside proclaiming the message of salvation, missionaries often engage in humanitarian work, medical missions, educational programs, and community development. • Biblical Foundation: The urgency for worldwide mission is grounded in passages such as Matthew 28:18–20 and Acts 1:8, championing the spread of the Gospel to the “ends of the earth.” Approach to Scripture While each local church can nuance specifics, the prevailing stance within the Baptist General Conference is that Scripture is both reliable and authoritative for faith and daily life. This belief in Scripture’s inspiration undergirds preaching, teaching, and lifestyle standards. • Hermeneutical Consistency: Expository preaching—verse-by-verse teaching—often characterizes BGC pulpits. Study of Scripture is encouraged among congregants to foster spiritual growth and personal discipleship. • Historical Accuracy: BGC theologians typically affirm the historical reliability of biblical narratives, viewing archaeological and manuscript evidence as supportive of the Bible’s authenticity. Relationships with Other Baptists The Baptist General Conference maintains a cooperative spirit with other Baptist groups and broader evangelical networks, while retaining its own leadership and governance. • Collaboration: Shared conferences, combined mission efforts, and interdenominational gatherings on evangelism and church development are common. • Distinct Identity: Autonomous from other Baptist denominations, the BGC emphasizes a unique blend of historic Baptist convictions and active evangelistic passion. Contemporary Developments In recent decades, the conference has embraced ethnic diversity and cultural changes, mobilizing resources for multiethnic church plants and ministries in rapidly changing communities. • Name Evolution: The adoption of the “Converge” label underscores a mission to unite churches from varied backgrounds around the shared goal of demonstrating and proclaiming Gospel hope. • Training and Education: Seminaries and leadership development programs nurture pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders for ministry challenges in modern cultural contexts. Conclusion The Baptist General Conference (now commonly referred to as Converge) has grown from its Swedish Baptist roots into a fellowship characterized by a commitment to biblical authority, believer’s baptism, evangelism, and missions. Though each local church within the conference exercises autonomy, their collective efforts unify them in spreading the Gospel worldwide, discipling believers, and strengthening Christian witness in local communities. Their consistent emphasis on Scripture, the transforming power of personal faith in Christ, and their dedication to global missions aligns with the foundational convictions found throughout the New Testament. Through fostering church planting and active evangelism, the Baptist General Conference continues to inhabit a vital role in sharing the good news of salvation “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). |
    |