Minutes of annual meetings, 1896-1949. These are minutes of annual sessions of the Old Path Association of Baptist Churches in Benton, Hickory, Polk, and St. Clair counties in Missouri. Included are minutes of the meetings, the articles of faith, rules of decorum, lists of churches, officers, and representatives, statistical information, and correspondence with other associations.
Baptist associations are voluntary organizations of churches of the same faith and order.
They are formed regionally and sometimes include churches from several contiguous counties. Churches maintain independence, but convene annually with representatives from each church in the association. The annual meetings last two or three days, usually in late summer or fall, and are hosted by member churches on a rotating basis. Moderators preside over associational meetings, whose delegates discuss doctrinal matters and the state of churches in the association, and prepare correspondence for exchange with other associations. Minutes of the annual sessions are printed for distribution to churches and corresponding associations.