Baptists and Catholics have been working together for many years in different forms: congregational cooperation on local levels, efforts to support marriage and the family, joint educational projects in a variety of educational contexts, joint efforts in social service, and public policy concerns.

The USCCB began working with the Interfaith Evangelism Department of the Southern Baptist Convention (formerly, Interfaith Witness) in 1971, and initiated conversations in 1978. The final set of conversations, with the expressed purpose of honest clarification of differences and mutual understanding, began in 1994 and ended in 2001. Topics included the environment, poverty, racism, life, and sickness, disability, and healing. Its last round discussed issues pertaining to scripture and salvation.

Although no official dialogue exists at this time with Baptist groups, many avenues of communication and cooperation continue. The Conference is currently discerning possibilities for future dialogue with some Baptist groups.