Who we are as Knollwood

Here are several ways we describe ourselves and our calling.

Our identity

Knollwood is a distinctive congregation of believers with a tradition of being welcoming and nurturing. A spiritual home for those of any age, we are open to all persons without regard to their status, unique needs, or any other type of exclusion.

Here we seek God’s presence through worship that engages the mind and heart, enlivened by sacred music drawn from many traditions. The spirit of Christ leads us to wrestle together with difficult questions of faith as well as with pressing social issues, but to do so with grace.

We embody our faith in an integrated way as we seek to grow in body, mind, and spirit. That faith compels us to be deeply engaged in our community, serving alongside many partners to meet vital needs—whether they be needs of children, families, or those in difficult life circumstances.

As Baptist Christians, we are grounded in religious liberty for all, beginning with a free believer in a free church, where every person may craft a deeply personal faith in relationship with others. We are affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists, the American Baptist Churches, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

In our spiritual quest, we are shaped by the biblical witness. We value integrity and authenticity in faith development, respect for each others’ perspectives, and openness to interfaith understanding. Above all, we are pilgrims in the way of Jesus, that although we may be diverse in thought, we are unified and transformed through God’s welcoming love.

welcoming statement
Knollwood Baptist Church is an inviting, inclusive family of faith open to all persons, whatever their race, gender, socioeconomic status, special needs, or sexual orientation, who want to walk in the way of Jesus.

Our vision

We will be a community in which diverse people experience God’s radical love and acceptance, grow and nurture their faith, and rise to the challenge of sharing God’s reign of love and justice with the world.

our mission
Learning to love and live like Jesus with head, heart, and hands.

Knollwood spiritual DNA

These characteristics, especially when taken together, are what make Knollwood … Knollwood:

  • Jesus-centric
  • Inviting
  • Grace-filled
  • Free
  • Liturgical
  • Interfaith
  • Missional

Knollwood affirmation of faith

While we honor and value diversity in private belief and interpretation of scripture and the gospel, these theological commitments serve as guiding principles for how we do ministry, missions, and church management.

  • The oneness of God
  • God’s revelation in Jesus
  • The Holy Spirit
  • The centrality of worship
  • The significance of Christian nurture
  • The importance of growth
  • The community of God’s people
  • Need for reconciliation
  • Commitment and responsibility
  • Historic Baptist principles
  • Practice of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue
“We will be a community in which diverse people experience God’s love and acceptance.”

We will be a community in which diverse people experience God’s love and acceptance.