Words from the Interim Minister

First Baptist Church in New Haven is a historic New Haven church with a proud tradition of worship, Christian education, mission, and planting new churches many of whom are now thriving throughout the greater New Haven area. The church has a commitment to the city of New Haven and a commitment to high quality, thoughtful and innovative ministry influenced by its proximity to the Yale campus.

In recent times the church has lived through some unusual difficulties. Perhaps most significantly, their Pastor, the Reverend Frederick “Rick” Lanz died in January of 2007 after a heroic battle with cancer. Today the church is in a season of prayer, healing and renewal as we look again to the future to which God calls us.

This church, although facing some immediate challenges, fundamentally has many core strengths:

• We have a full complement of diverse people who are part of the congregation. The congregation fully intends to maintain and support its diversity. It is a widely valued part of who we are.
• Proximity to Yale campus and Yale Divinity School. We are fortunate to have both retired clergy and Divinity students among our congregation. We reflect actively on excellence in Ministry, and what it means to be part of a worshipping community. We have nurtured many students in Ministry over the years.
• An architecturally significant building, more than one hundred years old, a beautiful worship space, and a 2-manual Austin pipe organ.
• Strong leadership qualities among the members of the congregation.
• A tradition of Mission minded ministries focusing on sharing the good news in our own words and actions.
• This church has been enormously blessed by the number and quality of those who have been a part of its fellowship. We are grateful for the great cloud of witnesses who have made us what we are.

We are currently in the middle of a campaign to repair and to restore the building with “Project Renewal.” Beyond the renewal of the building, we are seeking to begin a new Christian Education program for children and adults. We are prayerfully seeking God’s leading as we discern and plan for our future.

I count it an honor and privilege to serve the church in this Interim time and to help to guide the transition to its next permanent Pastor. If I were looking for a church home for myself in the New Haven area, I would be pleased to find this church. It offers many of the best things a church can offer, and is poised to grow in the coming years. Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30am, whether you are visiting or looking for a new church home.

The Reverend Erica Wimber Avena
Interim Minister, First Baptist Church in New Haven