Statement
of Purpose
Theological
Practice and Tradition
The First Baptist
Church of Berkeley (FBCB) is a theologically open congregation
committed to living out the Baptist tradition in today’s world.
Being non-creedal, we are inclusive of the various ways people
come to know and experience God in Jesus Christ. We affirm
the freedom of the local congregation to determine the content
of its own worship, preaching, and mission. Individual members
are free to express their faith and interpret scripture for
themselves. We affirm that the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers
all people strength and purpose for life. We affirm God’s
continuing revelation through scripture, the human family,
and our individual faith experiences. With these, we integrate
contributions from the various areas of human activity, including
the sciences, philosophy, and the arts, in continuing to develop
our understanding of God’s revelation.
The Church
The church is a
source of fellowship for nourishing our faith and growth through
the mutual care of one another. FBCB is committed to that
faith which grows in the interdependency of our community
as well as in our individual lives. We are in covenant with
the First Congregational Church of Berkeley. FBCB is committed
to an ecumenical ministry in our community and the world.
Worship
FBCB corporately
experiences the presence of God through preaching, prayer,
and congregational singing, led by clergy and laity. Each
week we celebrate together our faith experience through a
variety of sources from Baptist traditions and the wider community
of faith.
Social Mission
FBCB affirms that
providing strength for the oppressed and encouragement for
the disenfranchised are fundamental to the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Through corporate and individual efforts FBCB members
actively support projects for the hungry and homeless. We
support the liberation of all the oppressed. We affirm women
in professional ministry. We welcome and affirm lesbian, gay,
and bisexual people in all lay and professional ministries.
Believing that God’s grace and redemptive love embrace all,
we endeavor to be reconcilers in the world. FBCB also has
a tradition of emphasizing the role of education in the church,
integrating both educational and spiritual growth with the
Christian experience. Over the years we have both supported
and benefited from university and seminary students participating
in our community life. Historically, we have been involved
with many students of the American Baptist Seminary of the
West, especially through the Ministers in Training program,
and continue to be a local church support for that institution.
Adopted June 9,
1991; amended June 6, 1993
First Baptist Church
of Berkeley · American Baptist Churches U.S.A.
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