Established in 1964, the Unified Free Will Baptist Church has advanced with purpose and distinction, remaining steadfast in its commitment to the mandate Christ entrusted to His Church.
While leaders, officers, and members have come and gone, the work of the General Church has remained unwavering—dedicated to the unity and consolidation of the religious bodies within the Free Will Baptist faith.
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The birth of this mighty movement began in September 1964, when the Northern (B) Division of the United American Free Will Baptist Church Annual Conference chose to withdraw fellowship from the General Conference of the United American Free Will Baptist Church.
The body resolved to establish a new connection, known as the Unified Free Will Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Lloyd Taylor, Pastor of St. Matthew UAFWB Church in New Haven, Connecticut.
Rev. Lloyd Taylor was elected the first Annual Moderator, holding the distinction of founder, while Rev. Caldwell Thomas, Pastor of Randall Chapel UAFWB Church in Newark, New Jersey, was elected Vice Moderator of the newly formed denomination.
In September 1972, during the 9th session of the Unified Free Will Baptist Annual Conference, the leaders resolved to establish the General Conference. They appointed Rev. Collie Edwers (New Jersey & New York), Rev. Otis Park (New York & Connecticut), and Rev. Herman Epps (Connecticut) to organize the annual regional conferences.
The General Conference leadership elected Rev. Lloyd Taylor as General Overseer, Rev. Caldwell Thomas as General Moderator, and Rev. Jonathan Powell as Vice General Moderator.
In October 1973, the General Executive Board, meeting at English Chapel in Bridgeport, Connecticut, voted to restructure the church by modifying the titles of the clergy. The title of “Reverend” was changed to “Elder,” and “General/Annual Moderator” was changed to “Bishop.”
In December 1973, Pitts Chapel UFWB Church in New Haven, Connecticut, held the first consecration of ministers to the office of Bishop. Those consecrated were:
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Rev. Caldwell Thomas
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Rev. Jonathan Powell
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Rev. Collie Edwers
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Rev. Anderson Adams
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Rev. Lawrence Bordeaux
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Rev. Lester Coward
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Rev. Austin Atkinson
In 1978, following the resignation of Bishop Caldwell Thomas, Bishop Jonathan Powell was elected General Bishop, and Bishop Collie Edwers was elected Vice General Bishop of the Unified Free Will Baptist Church.
As the denomination continued to grow, the General Church established the position of Second Vice General Bishop, electing Bishop Curtis Gilmore. The following conferences were also formally admitted into the General Church:
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Metropolitan NJ & NY – Bishop Curtis Gilmore
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Northeast CT – Bishop Walter Joyner
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Northeast Atlantic NJ – Bishop Robert Adams
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New England CT – Bishops Lester Coward and Aaron Gore
In April 2001, Vice General Bishop Collie Edwers passed away. The Council of Bishops subsequently elected Bishop Hilton Rawls of St. Paul UFWB Church in Newark, New Jersey, to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
In 2002, Bishop Jonathan Powell resigned, and Bishop Hilton Rawls was appointed Interim Presiding General Bishop. In September of that year, the General Conference elected Bishop Elijah Davis as Presiding General Bishop, Bishop Hilton Rawls as First Vice General Bishop, and Bishop C. Nathan Edwers as Second Vice General Bishop.
Following the resignation of Bishop Elijah Davis in 2021, a special election was held on March 26, 2022, at Pitts Chapel Unified Free Will Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Bishop C. Nathan Edwers was elected General Bishop.
Bishop Hilton Rawls was elected First Vice General Bishop, and Overseer Hellen Harris became the first woman to be elected Second Vice General Overseer of the Unified Free Will Baptist Church General Conference.
On September 16, 2023, during the 17th Triennial Session of the Unified Free Will Baptist General Conference, an election was held at Friendship Worship Center in Mount Vernon, New York. Bishop C. Nathan Edwers was re-elected General Bishop.
Overseer Helen Harris was elected First Vice General Overseer, and Bishop-Designate Darrell L. McClam was elected Second Vice General Bishop-Designate of the Unified Free Will Baptist Church General Conference.
Submitted By: Archbishop C. Nathan Edwers, Historian
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