American Baptist Seminary of the West

Biography / Administrative History

Rev. O.C. Wheeler was sent by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, to California in 1849 during the gold rush to establish a Baptist church. During these early years Rev. Wheeler found that due to the migratory lifestyle associated with the gold rush, he had a difficult job in establishing a church. In 1853 the California Baptist Convention was formed with headquarters in San Francisco.

Because of the large distances to be traveled by delegates in 1892 the California Baptist Convention split into Northern and Southern Conventions, with all counties south of Kern County being a part of the Southern Convention. The Northern Convention stretched as far east as Nevada and as far north as Oregon. The Southern Convention reached east to Arizona and south to Mexico. Regional associations formed within each Convention. The make-up of these associations changed frequently but eventually the population settled and formed communities, in the early 20th century. Today it is known as the California Southern Baptist Convention and includes 31 associations.

Other resources: California gold rush sermons : as printed in the Pacific Banner : published in Sacramento, California / prepared by Robert W. Cullifer ; transcribed from microfilm roll acquired at Graduate Theological Union, Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Berkeley, California by Jim Brower, BX6333.A1 C34 2000; A history of the Southern California Baptist Convention and it related organizations and institutions from 1892 to 1922 / by Ray Auldon Bryson, Thesis cage 1956; History of California Southern Baptists, BX6248.C2 L6

From the guide to the California Baptist Convention and Association proceedings, 1851-1972, (The Graduate Theological Union. Library.)