New Life became affiliated with the American Baptist denomination in 1994.
The American Baptist denomination (official name: "American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.") has 1.6-million members in 5,800 churches nationwide. Its headquarters is in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It was the product of the north-south split of Baptists during the Civil War. (Earlier this century, ABC/USA was known as the "Northern Baptist Convention".)
ABC/USA is considered to be the most evangelical of the mainline denominations. Its members generally range from mid-left to mid-right in theological and political orientation, and it remains firmly committed to both evangelism and social action. ABC/USA participates in both the National Council of Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals. Some better-known American Baptists include Tony Campolo (author, and professor at Eastern College), J. Alfred Smith (pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland), and the late Martin Luther King Jr.
The American Baptist Churches of Oregon is the regional body of ABC/USA covering over 50 ABC churches of northern California and Oregon. The headquarters for the ABCO is located in Portland, OR.
American Baptist Churches USA