What reasons account for the growth of the Southern Baptist Convention churches and the
decline in Northern Baptist churches in the years following the split? Comment on which
reason(s) seems most significant.
After the great schism of 1845, Baptists in America divided into two separate groups (i.e.
North and South). According to McBeth, “Baptist North and South were committed to different
patterns of work which would make continuing cooperation almost impossible. While slavery
was the major factor in the 1845 schism, the events of 1826 paved the way for division and
probably made schism inevitable.”1 Moreover, while Baptists seemed to continue their expansion
efforts, the denomination lacked “inner and spiritual theological unity to match its outward
structures.”2 After facing several controversies, the split was all but inevitable. As such,
delegations were sent to Augusta, Georgia to discuss the “formation of a separate mission
agencies for Baptists” located within the South.3 This ultimately led to the formation of the
Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
One reason for the growth of the Southern Baptist Convention was the newly freed
slaves. McBeth writes, “Baptist in the South confronted a newly freed black population of about
four million whose physical and spiritual needs were overwhelming… Scotch-Irish immigration
into the South provided ready converts to the Baptist way. Most of the blacks who accepted
Christianity became Baptists.”4 Moreover, Baptists in the South utilized camp meetings to take
the message of the Gospel to others within the South, which led to the increase of its adherents.5
Southern Baptists also were more unified on theological issues, which would allow them to focus
their attention on home and abroad missions.
Within the Northern territory, Baptists faced an influx of massive immigration. While
Baptists first believed they could convert the immigrants, they were unable to handle the
amounts of people pouring into America. As such, some Baptists “joined in the hysteria that
swept the country and later advocated legislation to restrict immigration after World War I.”6 One
has to give credit to the HMS for at least attempting to assimilate the new immigrants. The HMS
1Leon McBeth, The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness (Nashville, TN: Broadman and
Holman, 1987).
2McBeth, 371.
3Ibid., 381.
4Ibid., 393.
5Ibid.,
6Ibid., 406.
sponsored a number of missionaries and auxiliary churches. However, with the spirit of localism,
Northern Baptists seemed less unified on reaching others, and the confusion among missionaries
only proved futile to growing the Northern branch. Within the North, Baptists also struggled
among themselves on theological issues. This would turn their attention away from expansion
efforts, and cause them to focus on internal aspect of their organization.
Bibliography
McBeth, Leon. The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness. Nashville, TN:
Broadman and Holman, 1987.
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