National Baptist Convention Of The Usa, Incorporated Churches

Worship in the churches of the National Baptist Convention of the USA, Inc. , is a joyous expression of gratitude to God for deliverance, both social and spiritual. The traditional black Baptist style of fervent preaching and singing predominates, and recently a charismatic influence has been manifest in increased use of dance, raising of hands, and chanting. Worship in the nearly 8 million-member National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. , centers on Christ and is African-American in cultural forms. The National Baptist Convention was formed in 1895 to meet the need for a strong national black Baptist organization independent of discriminatory white control (Leroy Fitts, A History of Black Baptists [Nashville: Broadman Press, 1985], 78). Worship as Gratitude In the NBC-USA churches, worship is an exuberant expression of gratitude and joy to God for deliverance from physical and spiritual slavery. It functions as both an escape from and resistance to the societal reality of oppressio…