The watchword for Baptists is “freedom”--both for churches and for individuals within a church. We are, then, necessarily a diverse lot—Baptists hold different beliefs, worship in different ways and have different values. We are staunchly anti-credal; That is, there is no requirement to adhere to any creed or statement of faith in order to be a full participant in the faith community. Our commitment to one another and to God is spelled out in our covenant (which is on this website.) We come together with our questions and challenges, our faith and our lack of faith, and we commit to share in life’s journey together.
The principle that unites us at Glendale is our understanding of the love of God for every single person, and especially the kind of love that Jesus talked about and embodied. We love God and we love our neighbors, as Jesus commanded. We learn how to do that as individuals within the supportive community and love of the congregation. Here is our understanding of the freedoms that we hold dear:
BIBLE FREEDOM
Sacred texts are central to many faith traditions; Glendale is no exception. The Bible—the Hebrew Testament and the Christian Testament—provide guidance and foundational understandings for our faith. As Baptists, we insist that individual believers are free to interpret the Bible with the guidance of Spirit and in the porous parameters of the interpretive community that is Glendale.
CHURCH FREEDOM
Wise Texas writer Alice Blair Wesley says, “What all the kings, presidents, generals, CEOs, mafia dons and celebrities put together do is ultimately far less important than what people in free churches do; when the people faithfully seek together to find and to live out the ways of love.” As Baptists, we insist that individual congregations will determine who they will be, what they will do, and with whom they will associate to further their purpose.
SOUL FREEDOM
The inborn Belovedness of each individual, created in the image of the Holy, is our understanding of humanity. Each person is competent to make decisions and declare their interpretations in matters of faith. No creed, no clergy, no government official may force faith or religious tradition on anyone.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
In the 1500’s and 1600’s, a longing to worship and study Christianity free from the entanglements of government and an established State Church gave birth to Baptists in Europe. A pronounced separation of church and state is good for both. Ever since Roger Williams founded the First Baptist Church in America--Providence, Rhode Island, in 1638--Baptists have been insistent in declaring support and adherence to a free church in a free state.
WHAT IF I’M NOT BAPTIST?
Everyone is welcome at Glendale. This congregation has long been a place for people with diverse faith backgrounds. Glendalers grew up in Roman Catholic churches, in the Church of Christ, in the United Church of Christ, as Lutherans and as Southern Baptists; even the occasional Jewish practitioner has worshipped with us for a season of life. You might also find yourself worshipping next to someone who did not grow up with any faith tradition at all.
We maintain close relationships with churches in Nashville and its surrounding areas. Because we have the constant privilege of being a congregational home for students from Vanderbilt Divinity School and other seminaries who learn the practice of ministry in the safe space that Glendale forms for them, we are connected with congregations that they leave to serve across the United States. Our relationships with other faith traditions is also important to us as we learn many ways to engage with the Sacred and as we learn how to be good neighbors with people of other faiths.
From our beginnings, Baptists have practiced believer’s baptism—which means that we baptize adults and teenagers old enough to make their own decision to follow Jesus on the Way of Love. We practice baptism by full immersion, often on Easter Sunday. We also believe that baptism unites followers of Jesus across traditions. so we recognize the baptisms of other traditions. That means you can be a full part of our community whether immersed as a believer or sprinkled as an infant. If your baptism is meaningful for you, then it is meaningful for us. What matters is your desire to follow the Way of Jesus.