Who we are…

First Presbyterian Church (aka First Pres) is a vibrant intergenerational community that happens to worship in a beautiful 110-year-old sanctuary.  We are a member of the PC(USA) and, as a downtown church, our congregants come from throughout the local community yet are committed to working and serving in the neighborhood where God has planted us.  Worshipping and serving together, the people of First Presbyterian have been a witness to God’s kingdom for over 125 years.

Our vision statement is simply, Internally Strong Externally Focused.  These four words summarize well our desire to be Christ-followers that seek to continually grow in faith as the Body of Christ for and with each other and to live as active witnesses within our community and world (you can find more information on our mission & values HERE).

Who we welcome…

We believe that we find our primary identity in Christ. Therefore, as Christ-followers, we feel called to see people as Jesus saw people. We know in the Gospels that Jesus welcomed and engaged with people regardless of their age, gender, social status, wealth, or prior religious understanding. The Holy Spirit calls us to welcome others in the same way. This means that we welcome all to be in our fellowship, open to folks of all genders and sexual orientations, people from all backgrounds or immigration status. We look past the labels that our culture assigns to us. We happily fellowship with those of a variety of faith histories. Our welcome means a full inclusion into the fellowship, sacraments, and leadership of our church.

Though we are not all of one mind regarding all of our theological understandings (much like the diversity of the disciples and other first followers of Jesus), we embrace a common commitment to treat one another with the grace, dignity, and forbearance with which Jesus treats all of us.