Who are we as 2010 begins?  What is our congregational DNA?  What unique role do we have to play in the advancement of God’s Reign?  Let me begin this way:  First Baptist Church, Portland is a congregation that defies stereotypes.  We thrive on the unification of opposites.

**Congregations are often defined by generation or ethnicity.  In contrast, we believe there is immense value in bringing the generations and the nations together for worship and table fellowship.  Every Sunday we have worshippers born in ten different decades and we conduct five worship services in three different languages.  We must never allow familiarity to dull our wonder at this amazing reality.  We are all enriched by our togetherness across generations, languages and cultures, although it is not always easy.

**Congregations are often classified as urban or suburban, metropolitan or neighborhood churches.  We are located in the heart of downtown Portland, and many faithful participants walk to Sunday worship each week.  At the same time, we have members attending regularly from Gresham, Tigard, Wilsonville, Hillsboro, Newburg, Scappoose and St. Helens because of the unique fellowship they find here. Also, congregations are often defined by social class as much as or even more than by race and ethnicity.  In our membership we unite hard-living people with business and professional leaders, and those actively engaged in their careers with retirees, and we all enjoy expanded perspectives from these connections, connections that are often rare in the broader society.

We take very seriously our relationships to our downtown neighbors, through our Drop-in Center feeding program and our hosting of Dinner and a Movie, Transitional Youth, Alcoholics Anonymous and the Shared Housing Office of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.  These ministries connect with people who have challenging material and spiritual needs.  At the same time, we celebrate the arts and culture through hosting groups such as the Portland Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Music Northwest.  And our local commitments are balanced by our connections through prayer, financial support and regular onsite participation with ministry partners in places as diverse as Brazil, Cambodia, India and Thailand.

**Congregations are often pigeonholed in the liberal “mainline” or the conservative evangelical right.  Our life of worship and study is warmly evangelical, as we lift up the Lordship of Christ and emphasize personal commitment to him.  Yet we are also concerned with injustice and suffering, as witnessed by our broad array of outreach and helping ministries.  As I see it, there should be no divergence between a gospel of repentance and faith unto eternal life and a “social” gospel.  There is simply the Gospel, and we must attempt to follow Jesus in every dimension of our life together.  Thus our fellowship comprises theological and political conservatives and liberals, united by our commitment to Jesus as Lord.

**There is a good deal of discussion today contrasting congregations trapped in their outmoded properties with flexible emergent churches who meet in homes, schools and storefronts, and thus are “freed” for authentic ministry.  Yes, we occupy a complex of beautiful and historic buildings which are expensive to utilize and maintain.  But our church is neither defined nor burdened by its buildings.  We are the people who worship and work and serve our neighbors from this place, which is transformed by our presence seven days a week into a House of Prayer and Welcome for all Peoples.

My dream for 2010 is that we shall continue to defy stereotypes, unite opposites and create a living picture of the Kingdom of Heaven in the midst of the city of Portland.  We invite you to come along with us, as we follow Jesus together.

Dr. David L. Wheeler

January, 2010