Indianapolis Baptist Temple Explained

Indianapolis Baptist Temple
Pushpin Map:Indiana#USA
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Coordinates:39.6663°N -86.099°W
Location:4002 E. Southport Rd.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Country:United States

The Indianapolis Baptist Temple is an Independent Baptist church based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.[1] 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. 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. 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.

Notes and References

  1. News: Feds seize Baptist Temple. Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Horne, Terry. February 14, 2001. June 25, 2011.
  2. News: Baptist Temple tax dispute . Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. July 21, 2001. June 25, 2011.
  3. Web site: Greg J. Dixon, the Indianapolis pastor who defied the federal government, died Sunday. Vic. Ryckaert. Indianapolis Star.
  4. Book: Smith, David L. . A Handbook of Contemporary Theology: Tracing Trends and Discerning Directions in Today's Theological Landscape . 2001-02-01 . Baker Academic . 978-1-4412-0636-7 . en.
  5. News: March 29, 1981 . Growth is Essential to Temple, Pastor . January 23, 2024 . . 3.
  6. Book: Bromley . David G. . New Christian Politics . Shupe . Anson D. . 1984 . Mercer University Press . 978-0-86554-115-3 . 197 . en.