About NBCA
Rooted in Faith.
Built to Serve.
NBCA is a historic fellowship of Baptist churches united around Christian education, missions, church development, leadership and service.
Who we are
NBCA traces its historic roots to the Foreign Mission Baptist Convention of the United States, organized in 1880. From those beginnings the work of the fellowship has centered on Christian education, missions at home and abroad, church extension and religious publishing.
Today member churches, district associations and state conventions cooperate through boards, auxiliaries and commissions — carrying ministries no single congregation could sustain alone.
The convention gathers annually in national session and in the National Congress, where pastors, teachers and lay leaders are trained and certified for service in the local church.
Our mission
To advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Christian education, home and foreign missions, church development, leadership formation and service to communities at home and abroad.
Official mission language is the source of truth — this block awaits confirmation of the current approved wording from the national office.
Our history
1880
Foreign Mission Baptist Convention of the United States organized in Montgomery, Alabama.
1886
American National Baptist Convention organized in St. Louis.
1893
Baptist National Educational Convention organized in Washington, D.C.
1895
The three conventions united in Atlanta to form the National Baptist Convention.
1919
Division within the convention associated with the incorporation and publishing-board controversy.
1987
National Baptist Convention of America incorporated in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1988
NBCA voted to operate its own National Congress.
Today
Continued emphasis on education, evangelism, missions, church development and global service.
President
Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr.
Dr. Tolbert serves as President of the National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc., leading the fellowship’s emphasis on Christian education, missions, church development and leadership formation.
Updated approved biography pending from the national office. Portrait shown is a placeholder.
Strategic focus
2023 – 2028
01
Growing healthy churches
02
Growing the G.I.V.E. Partnership Program
03
Growing the use of technology
04
Growing the Retreat Center
05
Growing local church and denominational leaders
Governance & resources
Constitution & Bylaws
Revised 09/2022 · PDF to be supplied
Approved Strategic Plan
2023 – 2028 · PDF to be supplied
Join NBCA
Pastors, churches and individuals are invited into the fellowship — for church equipping, leadership development, Christian fellowship and missionary opportunity at home and abroad.