The Baptist Tally

There’s nothing that says Memorial Day better than road trips, water and family events. And for me, this year was no exception. I journeyed with my boyfriend for the second “meet the parents” experience (or with him it was more like meet the family clan and the rest of the county as well) to his a rural Georgia hometown. (I loved his family and had a great time with them, just if you were wondering).

It was a six hour road trip to GA from my house. So there was plenty of time for normal conversation to enter the world of random. And if you hang around me for very long sooner or later my interests surrounding my religious profession come out. I know this must sound like the dorkiest topic of discussion, but enter Baptist history lecture 101: Type of Baptists by Elizabeth

The topic of exploring the different types of Baptists actually began between us several months when I first explained to Kevin how diverse the Baptist family truly is. “Did you know” I said, “that there are over 100 different types of Baptists?” We have more flavors than Baskin Robins does, in fact. He was shocked because growing up in the South (as both of us did) it is hard to imagine that there is any other church than the Southern Baptists. The empire that the SBC has built makes it easy for one within it to believe that they are all that exist. But this is not true! And during my time at seminary I have had the opportunity not only to learn all the different ways one can call themselves a Baptist but have studied alongside many flavors of Baptists myself. American, Evangelical, and Cooperative to name a few …

So, once we got off the interstate in Santee, SC and on to 301, the “Baptist Talley” sheet began. It was a game of “Where’s Waldo?” but with Baptist churches. We raced to see who could spot them the fastest. We had no trouble, but it seems that in the rural South churchgoers are predominantly Baptist or Methodist and not much else. While our results are not scientific (I’m sure we probably missed some along the way), this is what we found solely while traveling on 301 on until Statesboro, GA:

Missionary Baptists: 4
Southern Baptists: 16
Free Will Missionary: 1
Primitive Progressive: 1
Full Gospel: 1
Independent/ Fundamental: 1
United: 1

I was most fascinated by the Independent/ Fundamental Church. (It was the church I was most certain would never hire a woman pastor). It seemed to be a large, thriving church that was in the middle of city square. By the name you could easily know that this church believed and sought to live by the 5 Fundamentals of Christianity such as the necessity of the virgin birth, bodily resurrection and deity of Jesus, as well as a literal interpretation of scripture (especially the miracles). While I would never dare step in the doors of such a congregation (for fear that I would be kicked out if I opened my mouth), I was glad that this church was honest with potential visitors about their mission. Authenticity is always appreciated in my book.

So, who said that being a Baptist was boring? While sometimes I think that we have so much flavor that we are a bit confusing to those who try us out (or who attend our church business meetings), our diversity makes us interesting. Thus, it is just a manner of what kind you choose to be.