Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists

The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB) is an international Progressive Baptist Christian association of churches. The headquarters is in Louisville, Kentucky within the United States.

History

The Association has its origins in the founding of American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities in May 1972 by members of the American Baptist Churches USA for the inclusion of LGBTQ people. Bill J. Leonard, Baptists in America, Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 242

At a convention in San Jose, California in 1993, the Association replaced the latter.William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 603 In 1996, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, California ordained Randle R. Mixon, the first openly gay Baptist minister. Andrew Gardner, Binkley: A Congregational History, Univ. of Tennessee Press, USA, 2023, p. 111

In 2007, it had 69 member churches.William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 603

The organization merged with the Affirming Network of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 2024.Jeff Brumley, AWAB and CBF’s Affirming Network merge, Baptist News Global, USA, June 17, 2024

According to an association census released in 2025, it has 192 churches in five countries.Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Member Churches & Ministries, awab.org, USA, retrieved August 16, 2025

Beliefs Marriage The association supports blessings of same-sex marriage. Bob Allen, Pro-gay Baptists welcome same-sex marriage in N.C., baptistnews.com, USA, October 13, 2014

Schools It has five member theological institutes.Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Education Partners, awab.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025

Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists

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