A BIT ABOUT US

Working Towards a Better Tomorrow

The Baptist State Convention, of Illinois (Unincorporated) was organized on Friday, June 8, 1945 by a number of Christ-loving, God-fearing, far-sighted ministers who walked out of the General Baptist State Convection, at the South Shore Baptist Church located at 6028 South Champlain Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Reverend Richard Collins was the pastor. The ministers expressed a belief that the Kingdom of Heaven could be better served by the move. They scheduled their first official meeting for the next morning, June 9, 1945 to plan the method of procedure and define their goals. At that meeting, they laid the foundation for the organization and agreed to continue in prayer until the next session. The next session was held Wednesday, June 13, 1945 at the St. John Baptist Temple Church located at 214 East 50th Street in Chicago, Illinois at 3:00pm. Rev. CXW. Williams was the pastor. The meeting was called to order with thirty (30) ministers present, some women and a few laymen. After a brief devotion and prayer of consecration, the following people were elected into various offices of this new convention: Dr. James H. Brown, pastor of Mrs., Ruby Robertson, a member of the Olivet Baptist Church was elected Director of the Young People’s Department.

​

In June of 1949, Dr. J. C. Austin, Sr. pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church was elected President of the Parent Body and Dr. J.R.C. Finn was elected Recording Secretary. Dr. Pinn served for a very short time and Dr. T. Moore King, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Joliet, Illinois completed the term of office. Mrs., Sula Martin, a member of West Point Baptist Church was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Bessie Leverette was elected Recording Secretary.  Mr. George Johnson, a member of Greater Mount Vernon Baptist Church was elected President of the State Sunday school and Baptist Training Union Congress and Mrs. Carrie Beal of West Point Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Mr. Johnson served one year and resigned. Attorney J. C. Oliver was re-elected President to carry out the unexpired term. Mrs. Minnie Lightfoot Bruce was Director of the Young People’s Department.

At the Annual Session of 1953, Dr. T. B. Brown pastor of Progressive Baptist Church was elected President of the Parent Body and Dr. E.R. Williams, pastor of South Park Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Mrs. Trudie Trimm, wife of Reverend O.C. Trimm, pastor of New Testament Baptist Church was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Ida Daniels, of Pilgrim Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Attorney J.C. Oliver was re-elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress and Miss Carrie Beal as Recording Secretary. Mrs. Minnie Bruce, a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church was re-elected Director of the Young People’s Department and Miss Emmaline McFarland as Recording Secretary. The convention progressed under these diligent leaders.

In 1957, Rev. C. V. Johnson, pastor of El Bethel Baptist Church, was elected President of the Parent Body, and Dr. Louis Rawls, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church was Recording Secretary. Rev. D, D. Clay, pastor of Central Avenue Baptist Church served as acting secretary much of the time. Mrs. Lurline Trotter, wife of Rev. W. C. Trotter, pastor of World Baptist Church, was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Phoebe Jackson of Greater Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was Recording Secretary. Rev. J.N, Lightfoot, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church m Waukegan, Illinois, was elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress and Mrs. Carrie Beal remained as Recording Secretary. Mrs. Minnie L. Bruce was re-elected Director of the Young People’s Department and Mrs. Emmaline McFarland was Recording Secretary.

At the Annual Session of 1961, Rev. Willie Lewis, pastor of New Haven Baptist Church was elected President of the Parent Body and Rev. A. Lincoln James, pastor of Greater Bethesda Baptist Church was Recording Secretary. Mrs. Trudie Trimm was again elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Ethelsine Gulley was elected Recording Secretary. Mr. Albert Williams was elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress and Mrs. Juanita Powell was Recording Secretary. Mrs. Ann Speights, a member of Greater Mt. Olivet Baptist Church was elected Director of the Young People’s Department.

In the 1964 Annual Session, Rev. Willie Lewis was re-elected President of the Parent Body and Rev. H. J. Cook, pastor of Gideon Baptist Church in Waukegan, Illinois was elected Recording Secretary. There was no Women’s Auxiliary President elected at this session. Mrs. Lucille Lightfoot was the First Vice President and at the Adjourned Session in August 1964, Mrs. Lurline Trotter was again elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Elizabeth Warren of Canaan Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Mr. Albert Williams was re-elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress, and Mrs. Juanita Powell was Recording Secretary. Mrs. Gertrude Bennett, a member of Greater Mt, Vernon Baptist Church was elected Director of the Young People’s Department.

The Annual Session of 1968 brought a change in the official staff. Dr. C. W. Alexander, Jr., pastor of Greater Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was elected President of the Parent Body and Dr. H. J. Cook was re-elected Recording Secretary. Mrs. Rosalie Chambers, a member of Gospel Temple Baptist Church (North) was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Elizabeth Warren was retained as Recording Secretary. Rev. E. E-Franklin, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church was elected President of the Young People’s Department and West Point Baptist Church, President of the Parent Body and Dr. W. E. Wadlington, pastor of Hermon Baptist Church as the Recording Secretary. Mrs. L. A. Lambert, wife of Reverend William L. Lambert, pastor of Greater Mount Hope Baptist Church was elected president of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Phoebe Jackson; a member of Greater Mount Vernon Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary. Attorney J. C. Oliver, a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church was elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress and Mrs. Trudence Wilson, a member of Greater Bethesda Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Mrs. E. B. Hogan, a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church was elected Director of the Young People’s Department. The brethren, acting upon the recommendation of Dr. W. B, Wadlington, thought they could forestall a new stagnation point by voting to have a tenure law. The law states that no President can himself or herself more than three times or serves more than four consecutive years. The tenure of office law was approved. They concurred that the movement to utilize all of the great talent and allow many men and women to exercise their gifts of leadership. The new leaders and their staffs served faithfully for four years and then passed the reins in a blaze of progress and glory to other leaders.

​

In 1973, Miss Lucille Williams of West Point Baptist Church was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs. Elizabeth Warren remained as the Recording Secretary. It was during Miss Williams’ tenure as president of the Women’s Auxiliary that she developed the United Baptist State Convention Scholarship Aid.

In 1974, Rev. Richard Williams, pastor of New Mt. Olive Baptist Church was elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress, and Mrs. Elizabeth Dodd of Greater Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was Recording Secretary. At the close of the 30th Annual Session, all officers were re-elected.

In 1977, Mrs. Juanita Newton was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary. It was at the request of President Newton that the UBSC Scholarship Aid became known as the “Lucille C. Williams Scholarship Aid” in honor of the late Miss Lucille Williams who served as President Emeritus.

Pre Dr. J.L. Miller Era – insert (1977-1994) in the 1977 Annual Session, Rev. C.W, Alexander pastor of Greater Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was elected President of the Parent Body. Rev. H.J. Cook was elected General Secretary. Upon Rev. C.W. Alexander’s death in 1993 Rev. Jethro Gayle, pastor of Gospel Temple Baptist Church became Interim President of the Parent Body. Rev. Richard Williams was elected President of Congress. Rev. W.H. Foster served as President of Congress (1977-1993).

​

Dr. J.L. Miller Era (1994-2003) in the 1994 Annual Session, Dr. Johnny L. Miller was elected President of the Parent Body and Mrs. Freddie Petross was elected Recording Secretary. The Women’s Auxiliary President elect at this session was Mrs. Juanita Newton. At the Annual Session of 1995, Mrs. Verdia Coleman was elected Women’s Auxiliary President with Mrs. Rosemary Saulsby being elected First Vice President, Rev. WH. Foster; pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was elected President of the State Congress. Rev. Essex E. Franklin was elected President of the State Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress. Rev. Virgil C. Brackett pastor of Original Rising Star Baptist Church was elected Director of the Young People’s Department and Young Pastor’s League.

​

In the 2002 Annual Session, Dr. Johnny L. Miller continued his term as President of the Parent Body and Mrs. Terri Corbin-Hicks was elected General Secretary. Mrs. Verdia Coleman-Jones continued her term as Women’s Auxiliary President with Mrs. Rosemary Saulsby of Messiah Temple Baptist Church First Vice President. Rev. W.H. Foster, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church continued as Congress President. Rev. Matthew Miller, pastor of Rising Sun Missionary Baptist Church was elected Director of Christian Education. Rev. Virgil C. Brackett pastor of Original Rising Star Baptist Church was elected Director of the Young People’s Department and Young Pastor’s League.  Under the leadership of Dr. Johnny L. Miller, the Unified Budget was established appointing Dr. Isaac L. Floyd, pastor of Greater New Mt. Eagle Baptist Church as Finance Chairman.

Dr, Isaac Floyd Era (2003-2006) The Annual Session of 2003 brought a change in the official staff Dr. Isaac Floyd, pastor of Greater New Mt. Eagle Baptist Church was elected President of the Parent Body, Dr. Johnnie Miller, pastor Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was elected to serve as Board of Directors Chairman, Dr. W.H. Foster, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was elected to serve as President Advisor, Rev. Joe N. Campbell, St. James Unity was elected to serve as General Secretary, Mrs. Hattie Williams, a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Mrs. Patricia Mackey, a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Glenwood was elected Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Laura Bass, a member of Mt. Ebenezer Baptist Church was elected President of the Women’s Auxiliary with Dr. Rosemary Saulsby; a member of Messiah Temple Baptist Church was elected the First Vice President. Mrs. Terri Corbin-Hicks was elected Director of the Young People’s Department.

In the 2007 Annual Session, Dr, Isaac Floyd continued his term as President of the Parent Body, Mrs. Hattie Williams, a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was elected Recording Secretary. Mrs. Cheryl Haynie, member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was elected Corresponding Secretary/Public Relations Director, Mrs. Laura Bass, a member of Mt. Ebenezer Baptist Church continued to serve as President of the Women’s Auxiliary with Dr. Rosemary Saulsby; a member of Messiah Temple Baptist Church was elected the First Vice President. Ms. Sheila Randle, member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and Ms. Kisha Floyd, member of Joy Fellowship Baptist Church was elected to serve as Directors of the Children/Youth Department