May 8, 1845: Formation of the Southern Baptist Convention

On May 8, 1845, a gathering of Baptist leaders in Augusta, Georgia, created a new denomination that would grow into one of the most influential religious bodies in the United States. The Southern Baptist Convention is now the largest Protestant denomination in the country and the world’s largest Baptist organization. From the beginning, it functioned as a network of independent churches that cooperated in missions and ministry while maintaining local autonomy.

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