The SBC is a voluntary association of 41,000 Baptist churches.
Local churches have the authority to make their own decisions even in matters of faith.
In 1845, churches banded together to create the SBC mainly to pool their resources for missions. Over time, cooperation expanded to other areas, including seminary education, insurance and retirement for ministers, representation in Washington, and encouraging a Christian presence in ethics debates. In 1925 the denomination also adopted a statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message , in response to attacks on supernaturalism. In 1963, Southern Baptists revised their statements in response to assaults upon the authority and inspiration of the Bible. In the 1970s, Paul Pressler, a judge, and Paige Patterson, a college president, both from Texas, led a campaign to battle liberals on all fronts.