The Philadelphia Baptist Association (PBA) is one of thirty-three regions of the American Baptist Churches in the USA, serving a five county area in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Organized in 1707, by five churches, two in Pennsylvania, three in southern New Jersey and one from Delaware, who knew that together they could make an impact for Jesus Christ, that no single congregation could make separately. PBA is the oldest association of Baptist churches in the United States. It grew to cover a wide geographical range, with churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas. As other associations were formed it became more local. Today the PBA consists of 123 congregations, representing more than 45,000 racially and ethnically diverse believers throughout the Delaware Valley.

Throughout its history PBA has been linked with the city as a whole. During the Revolutionary War the pastors of three PBA churches served as chaplains. After the Revolution the PBA became active in social reform, namely in the areas of the temperance movement and the crusade against slavery.

In the nineteenth century a wave of charitable enthusiasm resulted in the establishment of several institutions. Among these was The Baptist Home, now Deer Meadows Retirement Community, founded in 1869. Also in 1869 The Baptist Orphanage of Philadelphia was founded (The Baptist Children’s Services). Following the Civil War and up to World War I association churches experienced a period of growth. Many new churches were organized and many existing congregations became active participants in the development of the city. One prime example of this was the Grace Baptist Church, (now Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell) popularly known as the Baptist Temple on North Broad Street under the leadership of Dr. Russell H. Conwell. Through this church Temple, ( Temple University) named for the church, was founded in 1886 to educate underprivileged youths for the ministry and for responsible leadership in society. The church was also instrumental in the founding of what is today, Temple University Hospital.

The Philadelphia Baptist Association today is an interracial, cosmopolitan body with broad ministries. Because of the Baptist emphasis on religious freedom and the right of the individual believer to interpret the Bible according to his or her conscience, the churches span a range of theological interpretations. They also comprise a wide spectrum of ethnic backgrounds, social concerns, and types of ministry.