First Baptist Church renderings show exterior refresh

[thelakelander]

You can tell someone at FBC really likes the metal panel look. They wanted to replace the Sunday School with something featuring metal panels. Now they want to put them on the Lindsay Memorial.

Downtown’s First Baptist Church of Jacksonville will give the Lindsay Memorial Auditorium an exterior face-lift as part of a $1.78 million renovation.

NOVUS Architects Inc. Principal Jerry Traino presented renderings Feb. 11 to the Downtown Development Review Board showing replaced metal cladding on the church auditorium at 125 W. Ashley St.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/first-baptist-church-renderings-show-exterior-refresh

[marcuscnelson]

I'm confused: are they no longer selling any property? I understand perhaps wanting to keep the Hobson block and the Lindsay block, but this implies that they've given up on trying to sell anything at all.

In August, First Baptist said it would not pursue its plan to sell a majority of its Downtown campus and consolidate it and instead fix water infiltration, HVAC and other infrastructure problems in the Lindsay Memorial Auditorium.

Is there any chance they're just holding off on actually selling until market conditions approve?

The panel thing is definitely a departure from the building's old style, but I don't think it's particularly ugly or anything. I'd say the bigger disappointments are the street level design and the way they're not changing the signage.

[Snaketoz]

The Worst Baptist Church is second only to Lenny Curry in making our downtown what it is today.

[Wacca Pilatka]

^ Didn't they already sell several properties? 

[thelakelander]

I'm confused: are they no longer selling any property? I understand perhaps wanting to keep the Hobson block and the Lindsay block, but this implies that they've given up on trying to sell anything at all.

In August, First Baptist said it would not pursue its plan to sell a majority of its Downtown campus and consolidate it and instead fix water infiltration, HVAC and other infrastructure problems in the Lindsay Memorial Auditorium.

Is there any chance they're just holding off on actually selling until market conditions approve?

I get the impression they'll sell pieces off if a potential deal makes sense. They've already sold a few buildings and parcels west of Hogan Street.

The panel thing is definitely a departure from the building's old style, but I don't think it's particularly ugly or anything. I'd say the bigger disappointments are the street level design and the way they're not changing the signage.

I don't think what they are doing will age well, considering the selected material and their struggles to maintain what they have already. But I don't care enough to make a big fuss. I rather them spend money improving this building then demolishing a six story historic building for a welcome lobby.

[Ken_FSU]

I'm sure most have seen the news, but First Baptist sent out a lovely form to its congregation that all members are required to sign, lest they be booted from church membership.

Per the T-U (https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2023/01/30/florida-church-requiring-members-to-sign-biblical-sexuality-statement/69852315007/), the form reads:

“As a member of First Baptist Church, I believe that God creates people in his image as either male or female, and that this creation is a fixed matter of human biology, not individual choice. I believe marriage is instituted by God, not government, is between one man and one woman, and is the only context for sexual desire and expression."

Further:

Members who fail to sign and deliver the statement by March 19 “will be considered to have resigned your membership from First Baptist,” according to a resources page on the church’s website detailing the sexuality statement. “But you can always join again by going through our membership process – attending the membership class, meeting with a pastor, and being voted on by the congregation.”

What a terrible hill for an already dying church to choose to die on.

With all the problems in the world - war, poverty, climate, racism, domestic abuse - it's amazing how it always has to come back to gender identification and sexuality.

Would love for someone to point out the verse in the Bible where Jesus threatened to turn his followers away unless they signed a form denouncing gender fluidity.

[thelakelander]

This should help them further decline to the point where they sell off more downtown property!

[jaxjaguar]

Can't wait to see the surface parking lots that will replace their buildings after they can't afford to maintain them anymore.

[Ken_FSU]

Can't wait to see the surface parking lots that will replace their buildings after they can't afford to maintain them anymore.

I just pray that everyone is careful to not trip over the homeless while worrying about the gays.

[vicupstate]

As a raised but 'recovered' Baptist, I must say this is pretty extreme. Can't say I have heard of this anywhere else.

[jaxlongtimer]

I am no Bible expert, but I recall numerous articles about multiple "sexual situations" in the Bible that I understand do not comply with the position of First Baptist.  I am wondering if they are basing their position on selective reading to conform to their preconceived ideas. 

I read that they expect signers of this document to list all the names, dates of birth, etc. of all their family members as they are "binding" not just themselves but their entire families.  I would expect a significant number of their member families have LGBQT members so I wonder how those families will respond.  I guess they can lie or break up their family over this.  That's promoting a great value system  .

[jcjohnpaint]

Well, as Ken said..It is a hill they will die on.

[Charles Hunter]

I am no Bible expert, but I recall numerous articles about multiple "sexual situations" in the Bible that I understand do not comply with the position of First Baptist.  I am wondering if they are basing their position on selective reading to conform to their preconceived ideas. 

I read that they expect signers of this document to list all the names, dates of birth, etc. of all their family members as they are "binding" not just themselves but their entire families.  I would expect a significant number of their member families have LGBQT members so I wonder how those families will respond.  I guess they can lie or break up their family over this.  That's promoting a great value system  .

Right, the Old Testament is full of polygamy. Is that an example of "Biblical Marriage"?

[WarDamJagFan]

I grew up with our family attending FBC. Back in the day, they ran a purge on members of the congregation who drank alcohol. My parents were literally kicked out of their own Sunday School class for it and were then shunned by the group leaders. Clearly, FBC wasn't interested in having the same reaction towards those who had an insatiable appetite for junk food. There are stereotypes around Southern Baptist churches for a reason and seems FBC is still determined to be a place of condemnation instead of redemption. Sad to see.

[vicupstate]

I grew up with our family attending FBC. Back in the day, they ran a purge on members of the congregation who drank alcohol. My parents were literally kicked out of their own Sunday School class for it and were then shunned by the group leaders. Clearly, FBC wasn't interested in having the same reaction towards those who had an insatiable appetite for junk food. There are stereotypes around Southern Baptist churches for a reason and seems FBC is still determined to be a place of condemnation instead of redemption. Sad to see.

Wow. I am certainly familiar with Baptist condemnation of alcohol, but have never heard of them kicking people out of the church for doing so.