| Alliance of Baptists | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestantism |
| Theology | Baptist |
| Headquarters | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
| Origin | 1987 |
| Congregations | 140 |
| Members | 4,500 |
| Official website | allianceofbaptists |
TheAlliance of Baptists is aChristian denomination in theUnited States andCanada. The headquarters is inRaleigh, North Carolina.
The Alliance of Baptists was formed in 1987[1] as the Southern Baptist Alliance by liberal individuals and congregations who were considering separating from theSouthern Baptist Convention as a result of theconservative resurgence/fundamentalist takeover controversy.[2]
According to an association census released in 2022, it has 140 churches and 4,500 baptized members.[3]
In 1990, the Alliance became the first Baptist organization based in the Southern United States to formally offer an apology forslavery in theAmerican South.[4]
In contrast to the SBC and other conservativeBaptists, the Alliance of Baptists has emphasizedwomen's ministry, encouraging women to seek ordination and senior pastorates, and encourages its congregations toward inclusiveness with respect tohomosexuality.[5] In 2014, the Alliance joined a lawsuit challengingNorth Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, which is America's first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans.[6][7]
The Alliance has also worked to uphold the separation of church and state through its membership and support of theBaptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. In 2019, the Alliance joined with 42 other religious and allied organizations in issuing a statement opposingProject Blitz, an effort by a coalition ofChristian right organizations to influence state legislation.[8]
The Alliance of Baptists is governed by a board of directors and four officers—President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary—in between the Alliance's Annual Meetings.[9] All actions of the Board of Directors are subject to review during the Annual Meeting. The 23-member board of directors and the officers are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected at the Annual Meeting. Board members serve three-year terms and can be reelected. The board of directors has an Executive Committee which oversees the work of the Alliance in between meetings of the board.[9]: 4 Membership in the Alliance is open to churches and individuals who support its Covenant and Mission and contribute financially to its ministries.[9]: 2
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