Indianapolis Baptist Temple
Indianapolis Baptist Temple is located in Indiana
Indianapolis Baptist Temple
Indianapolis Baptist Temple is located in the United States
Indianapolis Baptist Temple
39°39′58.8″N 86°5′56.3″W / 39.666333°N 86.098972°W / 39.666333; -86.098972
Location4002 E. Southport Rd.
Indianapolis, Indiana
CountryUnited States
Websitewww.ibtlife.com

The Indianapolis Baptist Temple is an Independent Baptist church based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.[1][2] The church's building was seized by the U.S. federal government after the church refused to withhold taxes from employees' paychecks for 16 years.[2] The founding pastor of the church, Greg J. Dixon, died in October 2019 aged 87.[3]

History

Indianapolis Baptist Temple (IBT) was founded in March 1950. The church became a member of the Bible Baptist Fellowship.[4]

In 1955, Greg J. Dixon became pastor.[5][6] When he started at the church, it had average attendance of 150. During the next 20 years, IBT grew by about 300 members a year, according to the Polis Research Center at IUPUI.[citation needed] The congregation was at its peak during the 1970s, when it had as many as 8,000 members and an average attendance of 3,000.[6] The 1977 BBC documentary series The Long Search used the IBT and Rev. Dixon to represent Christian fundamentalism in the program entitled Protestant Spirit USA.

References

  1. ^ Horne, Terry (February 14, 2001). "Feds seize Baptist Temple". Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Baptist Temple tax dispute". Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. July 21, 2001. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Ryckaert, Vic. "Greg J. Dixon, the Indianapolis pastor who defied the federal government, died Sunday". Indianapolis Star.
  4. ^ Smith, David L. (February 1, 2001). A Handbook of Contemporary Theology: Tracing Trends and Discerning Directions in Today's Theological Landscape. Baker Academic. ISBN 978-1-4412-0636-7.
  5. ^ "Growth is Essential to Temple, Pastor". Indianapolis Star. March 29, 1981. p. 3. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Bromley, David G.; Shupe, Anson D. (1984). New Christian Politics. Mercer University Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-86554-115-3.

External links

Authority control databases
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