Our History

In 1963, a group of concerned Baptized believers met at the Metropolitan New Testament Mission Baptist Church under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to organize as an association of like churches for the cause and purpose of Kingdom Building. After much thought, discussion and prayer, Reverends Eula M. Holmes and Minnie L. Burns suggested that the name of the association be: The Hudson River Frontier Missionary Baptist Association. Their suggestion was unanimously approved heralding a united fellowship of churches that would stand to celebrate its Golden Jubilee Year.

The Charter of the newly formed Association, was comprised of the following seven Baptist congregations in the Capital District and surrounding areas: Macedonia Baptist Church, (under the pastorate of the late Reverend Dr. George L. Burns), Metropolitan NTM Baptist Church, (under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. John Holmes), Mt Calvary Baptist Church (under the pastorate of the late Oliver J. Brooks, Riverview Baptist Church (under the pastorate of the late Rev. Samuel B. Sutton), Second Baptist Church, (under the pastorate of the late Raymond Jones), Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, (under the pastorate of the late Rev William Roland) and Union Missionary Baptist Church, ( under the pastorate of the late Rev Louis C. Brewer). 

To assure the association’s Spiritual growth and development, the following auxiliary and departments were sanctioned and approved by the Hudson River Parent Body at its conception: Women’s Auxiliary, Laymen’s Department, Pastor’s Department, Deacon’s Department, and the Trustee Board Department.

The Women’s Auxiliary was charged within the Hudson River Constitution and By-laws as follows “To elect a president who would be ‘a beacon light’ for her followers, to give them a greater outlook on the associational responsibility, and to keep a well-prepared workable program before them at all times”. The following Departments were established under the auspices of Hudson River’s Women’s Auxiliary: The Deaconess, the Usher’s, the Music, and the Young Missionary’s Departments.

Encouraged and financially supported by the Parent Body, the Women’s Auxiliary became actively involved in both the Empire Baptist Missionary and the National Baptist Conventions. These affiliations continue, to this day.

In the 1970’s the following auxiliaries and committees were established and added to the association: The Capital District Congress of Christian Education, the Late Moderator William V. Callahan, Founder; Rev Dr. George Burns, Dean; Committee on Evangelism. The Usher/Hostesses Auxiliary which was later re-named the Ushers and Nurses Auxiliary and the Sunday School and BTU Auxiliary, which later gave rise to the Hudson River Congress of Christian Education, Commission on Missions, and the Dr. George L. Burns Scholarship Committee.

As a result of spiritual discernment and wise leadership over the years, the following Moderator Appointed Positions have strengthened the organizational structure of Hudson River, namely: Parliamentarian, Director of Christian Education, Congress Dean of Christian Education, Time and Place Chairman, Budget Director, New Bodies Committee, Resolutions Committee, Ordination Council and Historian the first of which was the late Rev Ernest Hamilton.