Yes. Our membership includes numerous LGBTQ+ folks. Our church teaches that God creates some people LGBTQ+ and loves them for being LGBTQ+. We base this on careful study of some scriptures that we believe have been mistranslated, misinterpreted, or not read with Jesus’s love as a lens.
In the baptist tradition, every church is free to make its own decisions and interpret scripture as a community. We are free to be LGBTQ+. Some baptist associations do not welcome churches that practice radical inclusivity the way we do, but we aren’t a member of any of those.
No. We focus on how Jesus’s love can inspire us to be more like him. We don’t think Jesus would want to punish people for eternity. Our sermons focus on how Jesus’s love frees us and what we can learn from his life and teachings.
No. We’re all in a different place in our faith journey. We have non-Christians who join us for service because they find something meaningful in our community. We do not require congregants or members to agree to a faith statement. We treat baptism as a public commitment to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, not something to do to escape punishment. We will honor your baptism at another church or as a child – though we love baptizing people and practice full immersion!
No. We know that people are tired of feeling like an ATM at church. We do not pass an offering plate. Toward the end of service, a deacon will offer a prayer and remind those who wish to give how they can do so, since we are a member-led church that receives no outside funding from a denomination. But giving is never required, especially if you are visiting for the first time.
No. Really. Whatever you were going to ask, it’s no. We’re not here to judge, we’re here to help people follow Jesus.
Yes! We welcome your questions, doubts, worries, and confusion. Faith here doesn’t mean agreeing to a set of beliefs. It’s about trusting in Jesus, even as we ask hard questions, share our doubts, and evolve in our faith.
Yes. We observe two ordinances, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We take Communion (gluten-free bread and grape juice) on the first Sunday of every month.
We practice the right and responsibility of each individual to read and interpret scripture, together in community. That means we listen to, challenge, and learn from each other. In Bible study, we explain various interpretations and offer pros/cons, without insisting on one right answer.
We are a member-led, independent church in the Baptist tradition. Once part of the Southern Baptist Convention, we were kicked out in 2010 after calling Rev. Mimi Walker as pastor. Today we choose to affiliate with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists, two networks of churches that affirm full LGBTQ+ participation in local churches.
Members are in charge. We answer to no denomination, bishop, or outside authority. Members set budgets, choose pastors, and make all the important decisions. This takes place via general business meetings and three standing committees.
Deacons at our church primarily serve as lay ministers, praying for and serving the community. They are consulted on new ideas but are not in charge of church business.
We’re more of a community than a concert. We sing hymns together, play the organ, piano, and occasionally acoustic guitars. We have a choir. Our members like singing old hymns with lots of history in a place where they are affirmed and hear cutting-edge theology.
Email Pastor Colin at colin.holtz@dhbc.org or read more in the “about” section.
