Who We Are Today
We are a church with a rich history. We continue to see ourselves as socially and theologically progressive, diverse, engaging, encouraging, and striving to be a biblical, spiritual and caring fellowship. As someone said in a recent envisioning group, “We want to be passionate about Jesus Christ and compassionate for others.”
How Do I Join This Church?For well over a century, Second Baptist Church has practiced “open membership”, which means that we accept your baptism from other Christian traditions. Why are you called Second Baptist Church?Doesn’t being “second” have a pejorative sense, as in being, second-best or second rate? Third or Fourth Baptist Church doesn’t conjure up the same problem. Isn’t this a peculiar name to give to a church? If you are second, who’s first and why? From the Pastor: I have Yearned to Serve a Church with Ethnic DiversityI have yearned to serve a church with significant ethnic diversity. Throughout my ministry, I have served predominantly “white” churches, always with minor ethnic diversity. I find it embarrassing that Sunday morning remains one of the most segregated hours in America, even though I understand the need of persons to associate and worship with their own kind. But I have always believed in an expression of Christianity based on inclusion and diversity. I even wrote a book entitled, “Transforming Discipleship in the Inclusive Church.” I think it is possible to worship in a racially and ethnically diverse congregation. | Diversity at Second Baptist ChurchIn the origin of Second Baptist Church, there was the original Baptist church of St. Louis which was an inter-racial congregation founded by John Mason Peck, early Baptist pioneer missionary. Out of this inter-racial congregation came the First Baptist Church of St. Louis, an African American congregation, and Second Baptist Church of St. Louis, which has historically been largely comprised of people of European American descent.
THERE’S A BETTER WAY THAN BIBLICAL LITERALISMScriptural liberty is a Baptist freedom of giving others the right to interpret scripture according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, scriptural liberty implies that there is more than one way to interpret any particular passage of scripture. It implies that there isn’t a “right” way and all others are wrong. Scriptural liberty affirms for Baptists that the Bible is authoritative and that followers of Jesus are compelled to turn to the Bible as a source of authority. Baptists are not biblicists: we do not worship the Bible nor is the Bible our sole source of authority. Baptists have always trusted one’s individual experience with God as authoritative and also one’s community and tradition of faith. What to Expect at SecondWe worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. You might try to arrive by 10:20 a.m. just to get situated for the first time. You can enter our property just off McKnight Road or on the lane from Clayton Road. As a visitor, we invite you to park in the small upper parking lot closest to Clayton Road which you can easily reach from either entrance. Enter the front doors of the church under the arch. You will find everything in our facility is nearby and handicap accessible. Contact UsHave a question or comment? We would love to hear from you by phone, e-mail or postal mail. Where Are We?Second Baptist is located at a central suburban St. Louis crossroads. Our address is 9030 Clayton Road, 3/10 of a mile west of the Galleria Shopping Center at McKnight Road, less than a mile north of the I-64 intersection. Although Second Baptist Church is located in Richmond Heights, we are truly a community church for the entire metropolitan St. Louis community and have members throughout the city and counties. How are We Unique as a Church?The follow are twelve top descriptors of Second Baptist Church that were gathered by surveying our members in January 2008. This We Believe…The Second Baptist Church stands for freedom of the individual in all matters of faith and practice of religion. Such a belief and such a spirit is a challenge to live with all one’s powers and creativeness in fulfilling God’s purpose. Tradition is worthless if it does not give strength and vision for the present and hope for the future. The tradition of freedom in this Church is truly a spirit which has been passed on to our generation. It is the very atmosphere of our Church, the refreshing air we breathe. Celebrating Our 175th AnniversarySecond Baptist Church has planned a year-long anniversary celebration in 2008 that began on the date of its founding, January 6. Former Second Baptist pastor (1971-1985) Rev. Harold Hoffman of Atlanta preached and an anniversary banquet followed.Planning Your Wedding at Second Baptist ChurchOur pastor, Dr. Stephen D. Jones, welcomes you to consider your wedding at Second Baptist Church. You do not need to be a member of the congregation. Dr. Jones requires three premarital counseling and preparation sessions and asks couples to attend three Sunday worship services of the congregation during the period of preparation. The church’s pastor must officiate at your wedding at Second Baptist Church. |
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9030 Clayton Road (at McKnight Road, 3/10 mile west of the Galleria) St. Louis, MO 63117 (314) 991-3424 - Contact Us |