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A Historical Sketch of the BBU and GARBC

The transition from BBU to GARBC marked the passing of an era. During the

1920s "fundamentalists" expressed real hope for reversing the "modernistic"

trends in the

Northern Baptist Convention. The BBU was formed to militate for change from outside the
convention, including representatives from other conventions, in the hopes of forging a new
alliance that would be free from modernism and eventually rid the convention structures of
modernism as well. The GARBC emerged when it became apparent that the dreams of the
BBU would not materialize. While lacking the BBUs prominent leadership, the new
movement would separate all ties with convention structures, codify separatism and
premillennialism, and grow its own batch of leaders in the next generation.

The Baptist Bible Union

After Charles Darwin published his book and scientific innovations began their
invasion of "holy places," alarmed conservatives struggled to dispel such intrusions as
one would an unwanted house guest. At length, however, they conceded that the
guests had taken over the ecclesiastical house and departed to build another which
would be "for conservatives only". This movement is known in Baptist jargon as
"separatism". Beginning with the first experiment in Baptist separatism, the Baptist
Bible Union, these movements have been characterized by splits, turmoil, and
controversy. The four largest separatist Baptist groups on the North American
Continent today are traceable to the Baptist Bible Union, and their histories are
replete with schismatic revolts and disruption.

The brief but colorful era of the BBU lasted from 1922-1932. This decade saw

the movement go through phenomenal organizational growth and momentum until leadership
issues resulted in the groups near-total collapse.

The terms "fundamentalist" and "fundamentalism" as used here refer to the self-

described movement of the 1920s and following which was willing to "do battle royal for
the fundamentals" as coined by Curtis Lee Laws (Marsden, 159). "Modernism" was the
movement to accommodate religious doctrine to the modern era, characteristically marked by
an openness toward evolution, biblical higher criticism, and liberal social implications of the
gospel.

Billy Vick Bartlett, A History of Baptist Separatism (Springfield, MO: Baptist

Bible Fellowship Publications, 1972), 1. The four groups he refers to as traceable to the BBU
are the GARBC, the World Fundamental Baptist Fellowship, the Fundamental Baptist
Fellowship, and the Baptist Bible Fellowship.