1921-1993
The Southern Baptist Convention Handbook was produced by the Sunday School Board through the Department of Survey, Statistics and Information beginning in 1921. Through the years the department would slightly alter its name. The department administered the Uniform Church Letter, later named the Annual Church Profile for gathering Southern Baptist related statistics. From 1921 to 1990 the Southern Baptist Handbook delivered a wealth of statistical information about Baptists in general and Southern Baptist in particular. The handbook was sometimes published as a separated volume, but beginning in the 1940’s it was delivered as the June-July- August issue of the Quarterly Review, published by the Sunday School Board. The Handbook was discontinued in 1993.
The Handbook included a wealth of statistical information on Southern Baptists. Most issues of the handbook included information on the number of Baptist churches, membership, average attendance, Sunday school and church training involvement, baptisms, music program participation, WMU and Brotherhood statistics financial data and other information. These are usually presented as summary information of SBC related state conventions. Issues usually included statistical information on other Baptist unions and conventions around the world and information on other Christian groups in the United States. Some years include a directory and statistical data for Baptist related schools, seminaries, hospitals, conference centers, children’s homes, and other institutions.
