OUR SHARED VALUES

Chestnut Grove is a historic Baptist church rooted in freedom, community, and hope. We describe ourselves as kind, joyful, and authentic. Many who visit discover a community that is welcoming, caring, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest.


While we remain thoroughly Baptist in our polity and deeply Christ-centered in our faith, we take a non-dogmatic approach to many theological questions and welcome diverse perspectives within a shared commitment to Christ. We value curiosity, growing theological understanding, and contemplative spiritual practice. We remain open to learning from the wisdom of Christians across many traditions; we seek to follow Jesus with humility, grace, and openness to God's ongoing work in our lives.


What unites us is not complete agreement on every issue

but a shared desire to seek God's wisdom together and grow as faithful followers of Christ.

THE THREE F'S

FAITH

Faith begins with God's invitation and grows through trust, worship, prayer, and community. We seek a living relationship with God that engages both heart and mind.

FORMATION

We believe discipleship is a lifelong journey. Through worship, Scripture, prayer, conversation, service, and contemplative practices, God continually forms us into the likeness of Christ. We value honest questions and thoughtful exploration.

FRUITFULNESS

We believe that following Jesus shapes how we treat others, especially those who are overlooked, hurting, or marginalized. We seek to honor the dignity of/image of God in all people and grow in compassion toward one another.

WHAT WE BELIEVE IN COMMON

We believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We follow Jesus Christ, who reveals God's love through his life, death, and resurrection and calls us to lives of compassion, justice, reconciliation, and hope. We trust the Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and unite us as a community of faith.

 

In the Baptist tradition, we believe people should choose faith freely and live it thoughtfully. Scripture and the Holy Spirit guide us as we seek understanding through prayer, conversation, study, and shared discernment. We believe faith grows best through invitation rather than pressure.

 

We read the Bible as a testimony to God's faithfulness across generations. Centering our interpretation on Jesus Christ, we approach Scripture with humility, prayer, and thoughtful reflection, trusting that God continues to speak through it today.

 

We practice believer's baptism and celebrate the Lord's Supper as signs of God's grace. We welcome all who seek Christ to the table.

 

For us, Christian faith is not primarily about having all the right answers. 

It is about allowing the story of God's love to shape us and learning to embody that love in the world.