Baptist Collegiate Network

The Baptist Collegiate Network (BCN) is a Baptist college-level organization that can be found on many college campuses in the United States and Canada; many of its collegiate ministries operate under the name Baptist Collegiate Ministry or the Baptist Student Union. The organization, while Baptist, functions as an interdenominational and coeducational fellowship, student society and service organization. Baptist Collegiate Network is primarily associated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Baptist Collegiate Network
AbbreviationBCN
Founded1919
Founded atBaptist General Convention of Texas
TypeService and Social
Location
  • United States
Locations
  • Canada
Members
69,500
Parent organization
Southern Baptist Convention
Subsidiaries839
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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The organization was founded as the Baptist Student Union in 1919 by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.[1] Joseph P. Boone, a Baylor University graduate, was the first secretary. In 1920, the first state-wide convocation members was held at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. 300 students from twenty schools came for the development of programs. Churches and state conventions were deemed crucial to its growth.[2]

In 2012, the network had more than 69,500 students actively involved in campus ministry through this organization and its affiliated state-level Baptist conventions, in 839 college and university campuses.[3] 782 was in the United States and 57 was in Canada.

References

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  1. ^ Meredith Rose, One hundred years of Baptist Student Ministry, texasbaptists.org, USA, November 11, 2019
  2. ^ David Moore (2022-12-07). "Churches crucial in Baptist ministry to college students". Baptist Press. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  3. ^ Roger S. Oldham (2012-10-01). "Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM)". Baptist Press. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
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