1848-Present
Judson Association of Baptist Churches
North Central Indiana IN
The Judson Association of Baptist churches in northwestern Indiana was organized in 1848 at the Camden Baptist Church and comprised about 454 Baptist Christians at its founding. Franklin College President William Taylor Scott describes the scene as a struggle between missionary and anti-missionary churches:
At a meeting of the Tippecanoe Association in 1848 it was considered wise to divide that body on account of the large number of churches then belonging, Accordingly a committee was appointed which, after, deliberation, presented the following resolution: “That the churches in White, Carroll, Boone, Clinton and Howard counties be advised to form themselves into a new Association.” When the naming of the new organization came up there was afforded a test of the missionary spirit present; the Rev. T. P. Hedge proposed the name Judson—he was then the brightest star in the missionary constellation among the Baptists; the anti-mission brethren opposed it and suggested the name Kokomo; and so evenly balanced was the preference when the matter came to a vote that the moderator was obliged to decide; he decided in favor of the name Judson. But from that time to this the Association has been missionary in both theory and practice.[1]
But it was not long until the body had grown so large that another division was voted creating the Monticello Association from churches at Burnett’s Creek, Liberty, Monticello, New Lancaster and Rensselaer.[2] In 1859 Judson Baptist Church was founded (see entry 1859-Present) taking the name of the missionary and the local association. Judson Baptist Association was a loyal ally of the Union cause during the Civil War and in 1863 “only those who were loyal to the government at Washington were invited to participate in their annual meeting.”[3] “From the first the Association has fostered education and few Associations have sent as many young men and young women to Franklin College…”[4] Judson Association continues to do ministry due north of Indianapolis combining the energies and vision of 14 American Baptist churches under the direction of Dr. Bruce Cochran.[5]
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[1] William Taylor Stott, Indiana Baptist History, 1798-1908 (Copyright, 1908, by W. T. Stott.) p. 239-240.
[2] Ibid., p. 240.
[3] John F. Cady, The Origin and Development of the Missionary Baptist Church in Indiana (Berne, Indiana: Berne Witness Company for Franklin College, 1942), p. 205.
[4] William Taylor Stott, p. 241.
[5] https://abc-indiana.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SortedByAssociation-AllChurches1-31-2022.pdf