Who We Are
First Baptist Church of Asheville embodies a vision of beautiful belonging. Inspired by the Spirit, and by the congregation’s character and dreams spanning generations, the phrase “beautiful belonging” expresses our unique gifts and deepest longings.
Beautiful Belonging
First Baptist Church of Asheville embodies a vision of beautiful belonging. Inspired by the Spirit, and by the congregation’s character and dreams spanning generations, the phrase “beautiful belonging” expresses our unique gifts and deepest longings.
Belonging
We belong to God. Our belonging is rooted in the church’s baptismal liturgy that calls us to remember, “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” By water and the Spirit, we belong to Jesus Christ, who draws all people to himself (Jn. 12:32). Received into the household of God, we share in Christ’s life, death, and
resurrection.
We belong to one another. “For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…” (1 Cor. 12:13). Bound together in Christ’s love, privilege and partiality give way to solidarity and mutuality. In the fellowship of belonging, our differences become the very gifts that inspire and enable true communion (W. Jennings).
We belong to creation. “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). Called to be stewards of God’s creation, we seek the flourishing of sacred places, and the consecration of desecrated places, in order to live in harmony with land and all living things.
Beautiful
The beauty of God is revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the image of the invisible God…all things have been created through him and for him” (Col. 1:15-16). Jesus is the glory of God in human form, a foretaste of heaven’s beauty. In him, we discern our destiny in God, and see material glimpses of the age to come (J. Begbie).
The beauty of God is revealed in the artful expressions of our faith—in the gathering of the faithful and in the truth of the gospel proclaimed. “With trumpet sound…with lute and harp…let everything that breathes praise the LORD!” (Ps. 150). We aspire to God’s beauty in our common life, from liturgical expression and fellowship, to the musical arts and architectural design.
The beauty of God is revealed in those whom Jesus calls blessed: the poor, the hungry, those who weep, the peacemakers, the persecuted, the pure in heart. “Yours is the kingdom of God…for you will be filled…for you will laugh” (Lk. 6:20-21). The Spirit equips us to see the beauty of God’s image in the powerless and “the disinherited” (H. Thurman), and empowers us to belong with them in beloved community.
Mission & Vision
At the intersection of our culture and the kingdom of God, the First Baptist Church of Asheville is a community of faith centered on Jesus Christ and committed to his purposes in the world. We are experiencing transformation into his image, engaging our culture with his will and way, and embracing the wholeness of life he offers.
Core Values
The identity of First Baptist Church of Asheville is centered around five Core Values:
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
We acknowledge Christ as the foundation of our whole lives. Jesus is the teacher of our minds, comforter of our hearts, and Savior of our souls.
The Worship of God
In song, word, and prayer we come together in worship to acknowledge God’s power, faithfulness and grace.
The Authority of the Bible
In its pages we find guidance, comfort and the stories of God. We are committed to teaching, learning and living the truths found within.
The Worth of Each Person
The uniqueness of each individual is celebrated from the newest infant to the oldest adult. We are a diverse people, gifted as individuals and blessed as a whole.
The Call to Service and Missions
Committed to being “salt and light” in our world, we are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. As a family of faith we work together, care for each other, and spread the love of God throughout our city, state, nation, and world.
Ethos
We serve Western North Carolina by offering, within a traditional Christian framework, multiple opportunities for deep, personal and thoughtful engagement in a life of faith.
We have an environment of joy and reverence—of genuine celebration and authentic awe.
We focus on “process,” as well as “product,” because we recognize that what we do and how we do it matters.
We honor one another’s gifts, respect one another’s opinions, and care for one another’s needs.
We know that money, influence, and power are, simultaneously, resources and temptations. They can be used for good; they can serve as substitute gods. For that reason, we seek to embody the spirit of Jesus who came “not to be served but to serve.”
We are both Baptist and ecumenical in spirit—Baptist in our commitment to freedom and ecumenical in our recognition of the vast diversity created and allowed by God’s grace.
We have a sense of gratitude for the gifts and wisdom of our history and tradition and openness to change and innovation which help us to answer God’s call.
We are committed to Baptist freedoms: religious liberty, the autonomy of the local church, the priesthood of all believers, democratic church governance, and a commitment to non-coercion in all matters of conscience.
History
Through the years, First Baptist Church has provided substantial leadership in local and worldwide denominational and ecumenical efforts. It has participated in the founding and nurture of at least a dozen churches in the Asheville community. When our church’s history was published, seventy-six former members of the church were serving in church-related vocations. Of these, twenty-six were pastors, seventeen were foreign missionaries, eight were ministers of education, and four were teachers of religion, social service ministers, chaplains and home missionaries.
Today, First Baptist Church is busy at worship and work. The membership participates in programs for children and youth, choirs, Bible study and mission education. Church members provide key assistance in local, state, and global efforts, as well as helping in Habitat for Humanity, Asheville-Buncombe Christian Community Mission, and many other like efforts for community good. As has been true through the years, “The field is the world.”
The Architecture of the Building
The present church building, and fifth of First Baptist’s worship facilities, was designed by architect Douglas D. Ellington and was completed in 1927. It is one of Asheville’s greatest architectural treasures, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In a time when trends in architecture and fine art were headed toward the Modernism of the early 20th Century, the design of this 65,000 square foot facility represents a collection of ideas and styles. The plan arrangement of major forms and spaces is predominantly based on Beaux Arts planning concepts that stress formality and symmetry. With the surrounding mountains forming a backdrop, this arrangement combines a variety of building heights and mass to fit pleasantly within its context.
Ellington based the design of the sanctuary space on the famous cathedral and dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy. Santa Maria del Fiore was the first domed space built during the Renaissance and was considered a feat of engineering in its day. It consisted of two self-supporting masonry domes, an outer and an inner, with a space in between that is fully accessible to its peak. The First Baptist dome, constructed of steel ribs, utilizes a similar concept, yet is accessible only at its base.
The character of the church is essentially derived from Renaissance architecture. Many of the decorative details represent ecclesiastical images and forms found in nature. One example, an abstracted palm leaf, occurs on much of the interior and on all the original sanctuary furnishings, which were also designed by the architect. Due to renovations most of these furnishings have been replaced. The palm leaf among other details brings out Ellington’s sensitivity to the natural environment and enriches the building’s overall character.
Upon completion, First Baptist Church immediately took its place as a monument and symbol for our city. This project was one of Ellington’s first major commissions and received fervent praise both by the public and the national architectural community. As a result, Ellington moved his practice to Asheville and consequently was hired to design many of our city’s other great buildings. Some of these include the Asheville City Hall, Asheville High School and the S&W Cafeteria. Many of Ellington’s ideas initiated in First Baptist Church were developed in greater detail for these other structures.
To learn more about our church family, please contact us at 828.252.4781.