Denominational Affiliations
First Baptist Church is affiliated with the Dan River Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We have chosen to affiliate with these denominational entities for the purpose of supporting and funding theological education, missions, and other benevolent ministries.
Mission Statement
First Baptist Church strives to be an innovative, inclusive, Christian fellowship of friendly, caring believers committed to sharing God's good news.
Core Values
Although First Baptist Church is autonomous, we recognize that there are certain core values that are shared by most Baptists. For this reason, we interpret our denominational identity according to the following historic Baptist principles and beliefs:
1. We believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Savior and Lord of all creation. We believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is redemptive and is the authoritative guide for faith and practice in the life of the church and the individual.
2. We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, confessions, and religious opinions are judged.
3. We believe that worship is the central activity of the community of faith. Our transforming experience in the presence of God inspires everything we do. We believe that genuine worship engages the mind and heart and is guided by the Holy Spirit.
4. We believe that all persons are children of God, who are inherently valuable and worthy of respect, regardless of race, gender, nationality or any other distinction. As members of the family of God, we have a basic kinship to all persons and are responsible to each other.
5. We believe in the priesthood of the believer. All Christians have access to God with no mediator other than Christ. This includes praying directly to God, and reading and interpreting Scripture as one is guided by the Holy Spirit, noting that such interpretation must be in harmony with the Bible and the revelation of Jesus Christ. The responsibility of priesthood involves every believer's duty to witness to God's saving work in Christ.
6. We believe in the autonomy of the local church. Each church governs itself under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Decisions made by conventions, associations, or other churches are not binding on the local church. Each church acts independently of one another but may voluntarily cooperate in matters of mutual concern.
7. We believe in the spirit and practice of ecumenism; that is, the principle of worldwide Christian harmony and unity. Believing in God's inclusive nature, we respect different religious traditions, support inter-faith dialogue, and cooperate with other religious institutions.
8. We believe in the separation of church and state. Each person is responsible to God for religious choices and commitments; therefore, the state should neither compel nor deny faith from any individual or community.
