The Incorporation Of The Baptist Church In The Great Awakening

No one would argue that the church did not play a central role in helping to establish Black communities after the Civil War, but the path forward was not a uniform, linear incorporation of religion into Black’s lives. The differences between the Methodist and Baptist church and the growth that happened through the splintering of the denominations offered two unique religious understandings in the Black community. However, it was the work these two churches did during The Great Awakening that allowed them for the slaves to experience a shift in their religious understanding, but also provided the foundation for Black independence, autonomy, and religious freedom by providing the means to gain leadership and power. As two last major contributors,

Starting with the Methodist church, it was founded on a desire for more control outside the main authority of the church then the Anglican church allowed (Lincoln, pp.49). The Methodists provided a structured look at religion where one could vote on their controlling body. Yet, around the time of the Civil War, the Black Methodist church came into existence allowing the Methodist church’s true influences came from the type of division one sees with Richard

The Baptist split from the Methodist because they wanted more dispersed power with the congregation holding most of the authority when it came to their own church (Lincoln, pp.21-22). During slavery, the Baptist set up was ideal for those who wished to form their own church as they could set up and become a preacher if they were a recognized minister. Yet, even though there were divisions from the main body to create the Black Baptist church, it was the smaller divisions that really highlight what the Baptist church did for the Black