United American Free Will Baptist Conference

History

Prior to emancipation, black slaves and Free blacks were members of predominantly white Free Will Baptist congregations in the United States. The first black Free Will Baptist minister was Robert Tash, ordained in 1827. African-Americans organized their first separate congregation in 1867 at Snow Hill in Greene County, North Carolina, the first annual conference in 1870, and the first association in 1887. The General Conference of United Free Will Baptists was formed in 1901. The United American Free Will Baptist Conference, Incorporated, was created in 1968, resulting from a division in the parent United American Free Will Baptist Church. Bishop J. E. Reddick currently serves as General Bishop.

In 2003 the United American Free Will Baptist Conference had approximately thirty-five congregations, mostly in Florida, but also in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In addition to the annual meeting of the General Conference, there are six regional conferences that meet annually: South Carolina Annual Conference, Louisiana/Arkansas Annual Conference, East Florida Annual Conference, West Florida Annual Conference, South Florida "A" Annual Conference, and South Florida "B" Annual Conference. UAFW Baptist Church headquarters are located in Lakeland, Florida, and Henry J. Rodmon currently serves as General Bishop.

Sources
  • Baptists Around the World, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
  • Dictionary of Baptists in America, Bill J. Leonard, editor
  • International Circle of Faith Colleges and Seminaries
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