The Beginning

On May 5, 1930, at 11:OO AM, the late Dr. R.M. Pitts, Sr., Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church, called together all of the Baptist Ministers and local preachers, for the purpose of organizing, a Baptist Ministers Conference. This first meeting was designed to promote Christian fellowship among the community’s Baptist Ministers.

The following ministers were present at that first fellowship gathering:

           Rev. R. M. Pitts, Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church

           Rev. J. C. White, Pastor of First Baptist Church

           Rev. J. H. Hamlin, Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church

           Rev. R. L. Files, Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

           Rev. T. C. Phillips, Pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church

           Rev. Edward Gholson, Pastor of First Institutional Baptist     
           Church

           Rev. Chandler, Pastor of Second Calvary Baptist Church

           Rev. P. Joyce, Pastor of Waughtown Baptist Church

           Rev. Bass, Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church

           Rev. J. W. Jones, Associate Minister of First Baptist Church

           Rev. B. M. Summers, Pastor of Boxwood Baptist Church

On May 12th, the following Monday, the first Meeting was held. Rev. Edward Gholson was chosen to preach the first sermon. He chose for his text, Mark 7:24..., "And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into a house, and would have no man know it; but he could not be hid." His subject was, "THE UNHIDEABLE CHRIST," The three points were:

                       (1) He could not be hid because of His Love.

                       (2) He could not be hid because of Who He Was.

                       (3) He could not be hid because of What He Did.

The first elected officers were:

                 Rev. R. M. Pitts, President

                 Rev. R. L. Files, Vice President/Treasurer

                 Rev. Bass, Temporary Secretary

This conference was guided by the New Testament scriptures and the New Baptist Church Directory. (Hiscox)

Community

Leadership Role

During the nineteen 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and part of the 70’s, the Ministers Conference was thrust in the role of community Leadership. This was because of the Civil Rights struggle. The preachers were the only group that was not beholden to the white power structure and did not have to worry about any economic, political, or job related backlash.

Now it must be mentioned that the Minister’s Conference, along with the NAACP, was the main leadership source during the Civil Rights struggle. This was because the NAACP’s Executive Board was comprised of more than 2/3 ministers and was headed for many years by Rev. J.T. MacMillan.

The Conference had an integral part in leading the desegregation of the police and fire departments in Forsyth County. The Conference met with the Downtown Merchants Association to led the way in enabling African Americans to try on clothes in the stores where they shopped. They were able to persuade the Merchants Association because the Merchants knew that the preachers could call on their congregations to boycott any store that did not comply. The Conference did a lot of tearing down "Jim Crow" in closed or Backroom meetings with the power brokers of that time period. Often when the people on the front picket lines or at lunch counter sit-ins where arrested, the Ministers Conference raised money for their release by asking for offerings in the church services. This was not only done on the local level, but the state and national level during the freedom struggle. One of the Conference’s most cherished deeds was sponsoring Martin Luther King’s visit at Goler AME in the sixties.

Changing Strategies

In the mid Seventies the leadership style began to evolve from a closed-door/backroom style to a more confrontational in-your face/this-is-where-we-stand approach.

The Conference changed the name to Ministers Conference and Vicinity. This was done to be more inclusive of the entire community. It also voted to allow lay persons to become members.

The Conference is and has been vigilant to ensure that  right and just actions are applied to all persons regardless of race, creed, color or socio/economic class.

In the past the conference played an integral part in these deeds:

The collecting of over $10,000 for the defense of Darryl Hunt. He is now free after being found innocent of the crime he was accused of committing, but this may have saved his life.

The anti-apartheid effort by Dr. Eversley and Dr. Mendez led to their arrest at the South African Embassy.

The job restoration of a local TV announcer.

Defense of a Domestic who was accused of stealing from her employer.

Made sure minority candidates were considered when vacancies opened in the Forsyth County School system.

Creation of a citizen review board.

Collecting, packaging, and shipping over 50,000 gallons of water to the country of Rwanda.

Championing for the replacement of Dr. Fields at Latham Elementary with his assistant Dr. Johnson.

Assisting in keeping a lady from getting her house condemned by the city.

These are but a few of the things the Ministers Conference tries to make a difference in the community.

The Conference still fosters fellowship amongst the ministers as intended by Rev. Pitts by preaching the word of God at almost every meeting then breaking bread together in Jesus' Holy name.