Our Core Values | First Baptist Church Ithaca

Who We Are

First Baptist Church in Ithaca is a community centered in Christ, bound by grace, and called to model God’s vision of inclusive love. We are a theologically progressive, LGBTQ+ friendly congregation, diverse in backgrounds and faith traditions, that strives to serve God through word, worship, and action to move beyond all barriers of race, gender, sexual orientation, and creed.

As we worship and work together, we are guided by Micah 6:8

What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

We are committed to…

~ Supporting and encouraging members and friends on their spiritual journey.

~ Fostering Jesus' teachings through education and outreach.

~ Proclaiming God’s vision of justice and peace.

~ Working for the betterment of the local and global community.

Our Core Values

First Baptist Church in Ithaca is a nurturing and inclusive community. Guided by Jesus’ teachings, we strive for social and ecological justice; and embrace the Baptist tradition of Bible, Soul, Church, and Religious freedoms.

Bible Freedom—We acknowledge that the Bible is central to the life of First Baptist Church, and its congregants are both free and have responsibility to study and interpret the Scriptures for themselves.

Soul Freedom—Every person has the inalienable right and responsibility to relate to God and seek their own unique spiritual path without imposition of a creed or intervention by clergy.

Church Freedom—The local church is free to determine its membership and leadership, to order its worship, to ordain whom it perceives as gifted for ministry, and to participate in the larger Body of Christ. The authority and responsibility for governing the affairs of each Church are vested in its membership.

Religious Freedom—Baptists protect religious liberty for all and defend the separation of church and state.

Our History

Denominational Affiliations

Like all Baptist churches, FBC is independent, making its own decisions about staffing, worship, ministry, outreach, and the programs it offers and supports. We also recognize the benefit of joining together in God’s work with other churches and choose to affiliate with: