Indianapolis Baptist Temple

Indianapolis Baptist Temple
Entrance of 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 (IBT) is an Independent Baptist church based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The church's building was seized by the U.S. federal government in 2001 after the church refused to withhold taxes from employees' paychecks for 16 years.[1][2] The founding pastor of the church, Greg J. Dixon, died in October 2019, aged 87.[3]

History

Indianapolis Baptist Temple 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 Dixon to represent Christian fundamentalism in the program entitled Protestant Spirit USA.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Horne, Terry (February 14, 2001). "Feds seize Baptist Temple". Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  2. ^ "Baptist Temple tax dispute". Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. July 21, 2001. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. 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.
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