Welcome
A warm welcome to Seattle First Baptist Church! Whether through this website or in person, here you will find a dynamic faith community that has been a voice for social justice and progressive theology in downtown Seattle for more than a century. Here it is safe to hold your Christian heritage unapologetically while also valuing opportunities to collaborate with people of all faiths on issues that we hold in common. All people and all families are welcome into this congregation where diversity is cherished and makes us strong.
Seattle First Baptist is a church community that seeks to follow the way of Jesus Christ, to be a people of God and to love and care for our neighbors. We invite you to be part of us for one website visit, one worship service, or for a lifetime. Seattle First Baptist is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and values traditional historic Baptist principles such as Soul Freedom — the right of each person to interpret the Bible and other teachings for her or himself, the Separation of Church and State and the Autonomy of the congregation. As a church we value our communal times of worship, music and education together, and we encourage individuals to discover and walk their spiritual path in solitude and in community, in small groups and large, and in individual spiritual direction.
These pages contain much more information about this church and our work together. We joyfully encourage you to worship with us — whether on line or in person.
Are you seeking a church home? Do you question what value an institution like a church can possibly provide to our community today? This is a place where we encourage all to keep questioning. We welcome and cherish your heart, your mind, and your own growing ability to minister to the world.
You will find portions of our most recent worship services on our Worship pages.
To see photos of what happens at SFBC, check out our Recent Happenings page.
Our Church Calendar lists upcoming events.
Seattle First Baptist is a church community that seeks to follow the way of Jesus Christ, to be a people of God and to love and care for our neighbors. We invite you to be part of us for one website visit, one worship service, or for a lifetime. Seattle First Baptist is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and values traditional historic Baptist principles such as Soul Freedom — the right of each person to interpret the Bible and other teachings for her or himself, the Separation of Church and State and the Autonomy of the congregation. As a church we value our communal times of worship, music and education together, and we encourage individuals to discover and walk their spiritual path in solitude and in community, in small groups and large, and in individual spiritual direction.
These pages contain much more information about this church and our work together. We joyfully encourage you to worship with us — whether on line or in person.
Are you seeking a church home? Do you question what value an institution like a church can possibly provide to our community today? This is a place where we encourage all to keep questioning. We welcome and cherish your heart, your mind, and your own growing ability to minister to the world.
You will find portions of our most recent worship services on our Worship pages.
To see photos of what happens at SFBC, check out our Recent Happenings page.
Our Church Calendar lists upcoming events.
A Welcoming and Affirming Community
special logo courtesy of Kellie Whitlock
Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered individuals are fully welcome at Seattle First Baptist, and have been welcome here for decades. A support group for gay men was first formed by one of our pastors in the 1960s. A lesbian couple was married here in the 1980s (they are still together, by the way). When Washington State allowed same-sex couples to marry in 2012, we hosted a ceremony for 25 couples from the community. Today all individuals are welcome to fully participate here — our leadership and active membership includes individuals who serve fully and faithfully regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Here you are encouraged to be fully who you are.
- Here you are accepted, valued, and encouraged to grow into the complete individual that God wants you to be.
- Here you can forget about the barriers that still divide so many parts of our society.
- Here you are invited, just as you are, to join us, just as we are, in a mutual journey of love, support and respect.
Affiliations
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The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB) is made up of a growing number of member churches, affiliated organizations, and individuals willing to go on record as welcoming and affirming all persons without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. These organizations and individuals have joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith.
Seattle First Baptist is a charter member of AWAB. |
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Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches is an association of Churches dedicated to celebrating our diversity while finding our unity in Jesus Christ.
http://www.evergreen-abc.org |
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American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members across the United States and Puerto Rico.
http://www.abc-usa.org |