Brother Kenny Mann recently informed me that he had found, via Internet search, a group of "Primitive Baptists" who seem to be more like Southern Baptists, being less Calvinistic, known as the Eastern District Association Of Primitive Baptists. He immediately informed me about them and we both began to research them. We decided that one of us needed to make contact with them and find out more about them. Brother Kenny did this, having had two or three conversations with some of their leaders on the question of their beliefs and their history. Kenny and I have had several phone conversations about them as well as e-mails and the following write up by him gives us the substance of his research. I will be making a follow up posting to Kenny's posting as it relates to this group of "Primitive Baptists." You can check out the web page for the Eastern Association HERE. You can also find a lot of videos on Youtube that make a lot of their church services, associational meetings, and sermons available. Just type in "eastern association of primitive Baptists" in the Youtube search box to find them.
I appreciate brother Kenny sending this information to me as I am always interested in learning more about the history of those who call themselves "Primitive Baptists." In my years of study into this denomination, I have focused on the main group, those with the most adherents, which would be those who would be styled as the "Conditionalist" faction. I have not done much historical research into certain other factions, such as the "Primitive Baptist Universalist," or the black PB churches, nor have I written much against groups such as the "Progressives." I did know that there were some "Arminian leaning" groups that called themselves "Primitive Baptists," but did not research them.
The Eastern Association of Primitive Baptists
By Kenny Mann of Conyers, Ga.
I've discovered an "unusual" group of Primitive Baptists concentrated in the area where Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky come together. They are known as the Eastern Association of Primitive Baptists. Their association started in 1848. Unfortunately, the minutes from the years 1848 to 1878 have been lost, but from 1878 til now, they can still be found.
The most unusual thing about them, is that they are the only group of PB's that I know of, that deny predestination when it comes to salvation. They strongly believe that ANYONE can be saved. One aspect of their worship includes an invitation for anyone who is lost, to know Jesus. They exhort sinners to call upon Christ and be saved. This is not the belief of most PB's that I've had contact with.
In my talks with Elder Scott Tipton, the pastor of Willow Chapel Primitive Baptist Church and Elder Burnice Sieber of West View Primitive Baptist Church, I've discovered that I have much in common with them. They are very open to talking about their doctrine and history, and they strive to be Jesus followers. Although there are some differences between us, I consider them brothers and sisters in Christ, and would gladly labor with them them for the Gospel.
Here is a concise version of their history.
They were founded in 1848. According to these 2 elders, they still follow the original doctrines of their association. They have not "gone off course" like other PB's may accuse them of going. In fact, they believe that the OTHER PB's are the ones who left their original doctrines. They readily admit that many other PB's may have believed in predestination of the soul as part of their particular association's doctrines, but believe they "went off course" when they began to change their doctrines in the late 1800's to early 1900's. Some of these errors include "time salvation", not giving invitations to the lost, adoption of non-instrumentalism as a doctrine, and a hybrid form of hyper calvinism. The Eastern Association can prove that the doctrines they teach go back to at least 1878, the oldest record of minutes that they have.
Until around 1994 they had over 90 churches with over 10,000 members. Around that year there was a split among them, mainly over the issue of open and closed communion. About 30 churches left, believing communion should be open to anyone that wanted to participate, while those that remained believed it should be restricted to believers who were baptized by immersion, and who were known among the congregation to be walking in the truth. The group that left formed a new association called the Central Baptist Association. As you can see, they dropped the word "primitive" from their name. Some of these churches no longer exist, and some have joined the "missionary" associations around them.
Another split occurred around 2006 over the issue of ministers being divorced and remarried. A group of churches left the association when the vote to allow divorced elders was taken, the majority being in favor of allowing such ministers to be ordained. The group that split became known as the Southern District Association of Primitive Baptists. Doctrinally the Eastern and Southern association are identical except for the divorce issue.
Here are the issues that I have some disagreement with, but I do understand Eastern Association's view.
1) They reject missions. They do believe it is the responsibility of every believer to tell others about Christ, but they reject the use of mission boards and societies. I believe much of their objection comes from the fact that they believe it is difficult to oversee the doctrines that far away missionaries may teach, and the fact that much of the money is used to pay salaries, especially the salaries of people who only do "paperwork" or other non gospel functions.
2) They do not believe in a "rapture." They believe the second coming will occur at the end of the tribulation, and that the tribulation has no set number of years. They are Amillennial (while I differ from them on this, it isn't important as a test of fellowship for me).
3) They don't believe a minister "must" have a salary, or expect such, although they do support and give to their minsters in many ways. This has not been at the forefront of their thought, as their churches are small enough, that it isn't an issue, but I wonder if it would become an issue if some of their churches grew to the point of requiring a full time pastor. Only time will tell.
Here are some things I am in total agreement with them.
1) They believe the Gospel is for EVERYONE and ANYONE can be saved without exception. This is VERY rare among PB's. They don't really define themselves as believing in either a "general" or "limited" atonement. They are happy to simply say the Christ died for all who will come to Him. They would say that, because of God's foreknowledge, a certain number of people will be saved, and when the final one comes to Christ, then He will appear in His second coming. They reject the notion that God chooses some to salvation and other to be left in a lost state with no hope.
2) They believe in inviting sinners to be saved and to make sure of their calling and election.
3) They believe in Sunday schools, which most other Pb's reject.
4) They believe the use of instruments in worship is a matter of preference. Some churches have it and some don't. This is fine by me. It's not a matter of doctrine, and no church is frowned upon based on their preference.
5) While they are not "ecumenical" they are glad to call other Christian friends and brother in Christ, and most of their churches would welcome you to communion IF they knew who you were and knew of your testimony, and that you had been immersed in baptism. Most other PB's would have an issue with someone taking communion who was not exactly in line with their particular beliefs.
All in all, I find them to be completely orthodox in their doctrine, and that they have a burden for lost souls, and that they are evangelistic in outreach. You would be welcomed in their churches. They have a Christ like spirit, they are loving and accepting, and desire to be Jesus followers.
Research and phone interviews by Kenny Mann and info shared with Brother Stephen Garrett, July 2017.
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