Dakota Baptists vote for convention status

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Dakota Baptists celebrated their 50th anniversary in Southern Baptist life by unanimously approving a move to state convention status and a name change from the Dakota Southern Baptist Fellowship to the Dakota Baptist Convention.

The change to state convention status, which will provide Dakota representation on various SBC entities, will become effective Jan. 1. Southern Baptist work in the Dakotas began 50 years ago with two churches in North Dakota, First Baptist in Dickinson and First Baptist in Williston.