Jamaica Baptist Union

Last updated
Jamaica Baptist Union
AbbreviationJBU
Classification Evangelical Christianity
Theology Baptist
PresidentRev. Dr. Glenroy Lalor
Headquarters Kingston, Jamaica
Origin1849
Congregations340
Members40,132
Official website jbu.church

The Jamaica Baptist Union is an association of Baptist Christian churches, affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, founded in 1849 in Jamaica. The headquarters is in Kingston, Jamaica. The president of the union is Rev. Dr. Glenroy Lalor.

Contents

History

The Baptist Union of Jamaica dates back to 1782 when George Liele, a formerly-enslaved man from Atlanta, Georgia, came to Jamaica and began preaching in Kingston. [1] In 1814, the Baptist Missionary Society, a British organization, sent its first missionary to the island to open a school in Falmouth in Trelawny Parish, for the children of slaves. [2] The ministry continued to grow and expand during British colonization.

Baptists are involved in the struggle for the abolition of slavery. [3] After abolition, Baptists contributed to the creation of "Free Villages" for the newly emancipated people. This included the purchase of large parcels of land cut into small holdings, which were sold to families. The villages also included a school and a Baptist church.

The Baptists also created, in 1843, the Calabar Theological College for training ministers for local preaching and missions in Africa and the Caribbean, which became part of the United Theological College of the West Indies in 1966. [4] [5]

In 1849, the Jamaica Baptist Union is officially founded. [6]

Three of Jamaica's National Heroes - Sam Sharpe, Paul Bogle, and George William Gordon - were also Baptist. [7]

In 2018, Karen Kirlew became the first female president of the union. [8]

According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 340 churches and 40,132 members. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

Baptists are a branch of Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul competency, sola fide, sola scriptura and congregationalist church government. Baptists generally recognize two ordinances: baptism and communion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelism</span> Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

In Christianity, evangelism or witnessing is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is sometimes associated with Christian missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baptist World Alliance</span> International Christian denomination

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is an international Baptist association of Christian churches with an estimated 51 million people in 2024 with 266 member bodies in 134 countries and territories. A voluntary association of Baptist churches, the BWA accounts for about half the Baptists in the world.

Australian Baptist Ministries is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Australia. The Baptist Union of Australia was inaugurated on 24 August 1926 at the Burton Street Church in Sydney. The headquarters is in Belmont. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance.

Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) or Ministères Baptistes Canadiens is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Canada. It is a member of the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarter is in Mississauga, Ontario.

The Myanmar Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Myanmar. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and the World Council of Churches. The headquarters is in Yangon.

The Baptist Union of Southern Africa is an association of Baptist Christian churches in South Africa. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa. The headquarters is in Roodepoort in Gauteng province

The Baptist Union of Denmark is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Denmark. It is a member of the European Baptist Federation, the Baptist World Alliance, and the World Council of Churches. Headquarters of the Union are maintained in Copenhagen.

The Baptist Evangelical Union of Spain is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Spain. It is affiliated with the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain and the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Madrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany</span>

The Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Germany. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Wustermark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMS World Mission</span> Christian missionary society and charity

BMS World Mission, officially Baptist Missionary Society, is a Christian missionary society founded by Baptists from England in 1792. The headquarters is in Didcot, England.

Baptist Convention of Haiti is an association of Baptist Christian churches, affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, headquartered in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti.

{{Infobox Christian denomination | icon = | icon_width = | icon_alt = | name = The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image width = | alt = | caption = | abbreviation = STBC | type = | main_classification = Protestant | orientation = Evangelical | scripture = Bible | theology = | polity =Congregational | governance = General Council | leader_title = President | leader_name = Chilaka Nissi Praneeth | leader_title1 = Add General Secretary | leader_name1 = C.D.Prakash Rao | leader_title2 = Associate Secretary | leader_name2 = G.Joseph | leader_title3 = Director for Evangelism | leader_name3 = Rev.J.Vijay Kumar | fellowships_type = | fellowships = | fellowships_type1 = | fellowships1 = | division_type = | division = | division_type1 = | division1 = | division_type2 = | division2 = | division_type3 = | division3 = | associations = | area = Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and [[Telangana][SPl GPA Holder Rajkumar Rodricks from Telangana to protect Missionary Properties]] | language =Telugu | headquarters = Markapuram | origin_link = | founder = American Baptist Foreign Mission Society | founded_date = | founded_place = | separated_from = | parent = | merger = | absorbed = | separations = | merged_into = | defunct = | congregations_type = | congregations = | members = 740,000 | ministers_type = | ministers = | missionaries = | churches =830 | hospitals = | nursing_homes = | aid = | primary_schools = 14 | secondary_schools = 14 | tax_status = | tertiary = | other_names = | publications = | website = | slogan = | logo = | footnotes = }}

The United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) is an ecumenical seminary training male and female clergy in Kingston, Jamaica, for Anglican and Protestant denominations throughout the Caribbean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Jamaica</span>

Christianity was introduced by Spanish settlers who arrived in Jamaica in 1509. Thus, Roman Catholicism was the first Christian denomination to be established. Later, Protestant missions were very active, especially the Baptists, and played a key role in the abolition of slavery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Native Baptist Church of Cameroon</span> Christian denomination in Cameroon

The Native Baptist Church of Cameroon is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Cameroon. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Douala.

The Cameroon Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Cameroon. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Bamenda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon</span>

The Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Cameroon. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Douala.

The Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Bahamas. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Nassau.

The Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Sierra Leone. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Freetown.

References

  1. William H. Brackney, "Historical Dictionary of the Baptists", Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 310.
  2. Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 220
  3. Patrick Taylor, Frederick I. Case, The Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions: Volume 1: A - L; Volume 2: M - Z, University of Illinois Press, USA, 2013, p. 104-106.
  4. George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christian Education, Volume 3, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2015, p. 1323.
  5. Ennis B. Edmonds, Michelle A. Gonzalez, Caribbean Religious History: An Introduction, NYU Press, USA, 2010, p. 209
  6. Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 220
  7. "fast_facts_national_heroes". www.jnht.com. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  8. Jason Cross, Electrifying Welcome For Ja's First Female Baptist Union President, jamaica-gleaner.com, Jamaica, February 26, 2018.
  9. Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023