A Family Table,
Not a Corporate Office.
The Northeast Florida Baptist Family of Churches exists to foster connections for Kingdom collaboration and to strengthen missional movement across our region. If you are a pastor or church leader looking for fellowship, resources, and a relational network that takes the work of ministry seriously, there is a place for you here.
We believe the Church belongs to Christ and that every local congregation is autonomous under His Lordship. The association is not a hierarchy. It is connective tissue. Our role is to serve the churches God has placed in this region, not to direct them.
Because we hold those convictions seriously, we have given careful thought to how churches engage with us. There are two clearly defined ways: as a Family Church or as a Connected Church. Both relationships are valued. Both have a place at the table. The distinction simply names what each one means, so that nothing is left unclear and no one is left guessing.
Family Church | Connected Church
Different relationships. Same warmth. Both rooted in shared gospel essentials and a commitment to strengthening one another for the work God has called us to.
Family Church
The fullest expression of shared vision and cooperative ministry.
Family Churches are the heart of our network. These are congregations who share full Baptist alignment, walk together in cooperative ministry, and carry shared ownership of what we are building together as a family of churches.
Family Churches are voting members of the association. They are eligible to serve in governance, shape the direction of our shared work, and access every resource, process, and gathering at no cost beyond their cooperative giving.
- Full voting privileges at all associational gatherings
- Eligibility to serve on committees, governance teams, and leadership roles
- Full access to every association-facilitated process at no cost
- Priority scheduling for coaching, assessments, and strategic processes
- Representation in our formal network and shared communications
- Access to the Kingdom Circulation Fund and Family Future Fund resources
Connected Church
A welcomed seat at the table, with a clearly defined posture.
Connected Churches are congregations who do not carry full Southern Baptist alignment but share the gospel essentials and want to benefit from the relationships, training, and resources that flow through this network.
Connected Churches are welcomed in our gatherings and valued in our network. The distinction between membership and connection is maintained clearly, which protects everyone involved. You are not asked to become something you are not, and we are not asked to represent something we have not committed to.
- Access to association gatherings and Ministry Toolbox Lunches
- Pastor relationships and regional collaboration opportunities
- Reduced rate on association-facilitated processes (50% off market)
- Annual review to maintain Connected Church standing
- A relational table without governance responsibility
What Both Tiers Affirm
Whether a church engages as Family or Connected, certain gospel essentials anchor the table. These are not denominational preferences. They are the convictions that make our shared work coherent.
Gospel Orthodoxy
The Trinity, the Person of Christ, substitutionary atonement, salvation by grace through faith alone, the bodily resurrection, and the return of Christ.
Biblical Authority
Scripture as inspired and authoritative, functioning as the final standard for faith and practice in every congregation at the table.
The Pastoral Office
Affirmation of the male pastoral office as understood in Baptist heritage and historic Christian practice.
Confessional Posture
Family Churches formally align with the Baptist Faith and Message. Connected Churches respect it without active opposition or hostility.
Cooperative Spirit
Willingness to participate relationally, avoid public hostility toward others at the table, and contribute to the health of the broader network.
Local Church Autonomy
Every congregation remains autonomous under Christ's Lordship. The association serves; it does not govern. Connection is invitation, never coercion.
How the Two Tiers Compare
A quick reference for the practical differences between Family Church and Connected Church engagement.
Let's Have a Conversation.
If you are exploring what it might look like to walk with our family of churches, the next step is not a form or a checklist. It is a conversation. Share a meal with me. Tell me about your church, your story, and what you sense God is doing in your context. I want to understand where you are before I talk about where we are.
From there, we can talk about which tier of engagement makes the most sense, what it would look like practically, and whether the timing is right. There is no pressure to decide quickly, and there is no judgment for asking questions.
A more detailed booklet describing each tier in greater depth is available upon request, and is something we will walk through together as the conversation unfolds.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Chris Reinolds | Mission Strategist