Why I’m Unabashedly Baptist (When 43% of SBC Churches Aren’t)

A significant segment of Southern Baptist-associated churches are avoiding outward declaration of their Baptist identity.

Data from five cities that recently hosted the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting reveals that around 43.5 percent of associated churches do not include “Baptist” in their name. That percentage becomes a majority in cities including Indianapolis, Indiana and Anaheim, California.

While this research is informal, the results suggest that many churches—and by extension, the individual believers within them—are hesitant to acknowledge their Baptist heritage. This conclusion is more broadly supported by the explosive growth of non-denominationalism, which avoids affiliation with any existing church tradition.

Why should Baptists own up to their theological heritage? And what benefit do denominations bring in a post-denominational and post-Christian culture?

First off, denominations connect modern-day believers to church history. Labels such as “Baptist” are one-word descriptors of the experiences, traditions and beliefs that have shaped the Church over time. Publicly affiliating with a denomination ties modern Christians to a noble lineage of like-minded saints.

Both Christian history and Baptist history are full of faithful pastors, missionaries and theologians. I would be remiss not to mention the resolve of the Reformers or the bravery of the ocean-crossing Puritans. Who could not learn from the evangelistic zeal of missionaries like Lottie Moon?

The study of church history across millennia can be overwhelming. Denominations narrow down church history for congregants who are not historians by trade. It’s true that many figures in church history have interdenominational appeal. But for many churchgoers, filtering authors by denomination makes church history more accessible.

Relatedly, denominations provide believers with time-honored traditions. As a firm believer in “sola scriptura” (Latin for “by Scripture alone”), my relationship with tradition has sometimes been an uneasy alliance. Yet, properly understood, tradition can both comfort and challenge the modern believer.

As a Baptist, I can draw comfort from knowing I do not have to reinvent the doctrinal wheel—my commitments to congregational church polity or believer’s baptism by immersion have centuries of precedent. And while there is a time for unprecedented doctrines, tradition assures believers that biblical truth is timeless.

While tradition by itself has no authority, entirely ignoring the counsel of one’s theological ancestors risks foolishness. As Proverbs 11:14 explains, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Denominations shelter believers underneath an umbrella of orthodoxy, assuring them that they are not alone in their convictions.

Denominational traditions also challenge believers to better understand their theological distinctives. Time-honored practices shape believers by instilling habits conducive to the Christian life. Ideally, everything from the hymns to the order of service should prompt congregants to reflect on their walk with Christ and the reasons underlying their beliefs.

In the end, there’s no point in hiding one’s theological heritage. To the 43.5% of SBC churches that shy away from the name of “Baptist,” I urge a revived appreciation of their rich heritage. The value of a denomination—whether it be Baptist or otherwise—is too great to be ashamed of.

Caitlyn Beebe is a University Scholar at Baylor University concentrating in economics, journalism, and political science on the pre-law track. As a 2025 summer intern with the Institute on Religion & Democracy, she is excited to explore the intersection of religion and politics.

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