The ABA was founded in 1924 from a merger of two Baptist groups, and was influenced early by [[Ben M. Bogard]], a proponent of Baptist successionism.<ref>The doctrine teaches that Baptists have existed since the beginning of the Christian church; as such groups holding to it do not consider themselves [[Protestant]], as they reserve that distinction to groups formed from the [[Reformation]].</ref> Otherwise, the ABA generally holds to traditional, conservative Baptist doctrine. | The ABA was founded in 1924 from a merger of two Baptist groups, and was influenced early by [[Ben M. Bogard]], a proponent of Baptist successionism.<ref>The doctrine teaches that Baptists have existed since the beginning of the Christian church; as such groups holding to it do not consider themselves [[Protestant]], as they reserve that distinction to groups formed from the [[Reformation]].</ref> Otherwise, the ABA generally holds to traditional, conservative Baptist doctrine. |