First Baptist Church of Jacksonville

Staff

• Dr. Jerry Vines- Pastor
• Rev. Rodney Brooks- Asst. Pastor
• Rev. Lewis Howard- Asst. Pastor
• Rev. Doug Pigg- Asst. Pastor
• Rev. Rob Barton- Middle School Director
• Shelly Baumgarner- Children's Ministry Director
• Nancy Brant- Children's Music Director
• Rev. Calvin Carr- High School Director
• Mr. David Champange- Youth Insturmental Music Director
• Rev. Steve Clifton- Minister of Senior Adults and Christian Life University
• Vicki Cornwell- Preschool Ministiry Director
• Suzanne Dedmon- Women's Ministry Director
• Rev. Edson Dickinson- Instrumental Music Director
• Mr. Mark Eiginger- Awana Ministries Director
• Fran Hawk- Child and Youth Education Director
• Rev. Kevin King- Young and Median Adult Ministries Director
• Rev. Steve McCollum- Pastoral Ministry Hospital Pastor
• Rev. Paul Murphy- Pastoral Ministry Hospital Pastor
• Rev. Patrick Pfrimmer- Singles' Ministries Director

Controversy

The church has been the center of controversy regarding:

• segregation, especially at the church affiliated Baptist Medical Center which denied medical care to African Americans until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - African Americans operated a seperate but not equal facility, Brewster Hospital from 1901 to 1966.
• The church strongly supported a controversial effort to preserve a blue law banning Sunday alcohol sales, however the blue law was repealed despite the church's protests.
• the contruction of a fully functioning lighthouse attached to the corner of one of the church's many parking decks. Located well inland at the intersection of Pearl & Union streets, the lighthouse serves no navigation purpose except as a "spiritual beacon". Neighbors complain about the light and it's "ugliness".
• the establishment of a ministry for the "sexually broken" (victims of rape & incest, homosexuals, and people addicted to pornography). The ministry seeks to "heal" them.
• one member of the church's clergy wrote a strong letter to the Jackonville Times-Union opposing the construction of a new amphitheater due to the possiblity it may attract more "satanic groups such as Marilyn Manson." The letter also blacklisted Green Day, gangsta rap, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Korn, and spoke poorly of the 1st Amendment and free speech rights.
• Islamophobic comments made by Jerry Vines at the Southern Baptist convention in 2002.

External link

• First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Official Website

Referenced By