Foothills Church
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Tension detected
3 stances that depart from the denomination
The congregation's own words appear to differ from what its denomination's confession binds. This is an AI reading of the church's public text and may be inaccurate — the quotes below show what it's based on.
AI summary — these stances are inferred by AI from the church's own public text and may be inaccurate. Report a correction.
Southern Baptist Convention denies.
This congregation affirms.
"rejects — Rejected entirely. Each congregation is autonomous under Christ. There is no priestly class or institutional chain of authority."
Southern Baptist Convention denies.
This congregation affirms.
"rejects — The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of remembrance, not a sacrament conveying grace. Christ is present spiritually through faith, but the elements are symbols."
Southern Baptist Convention denies.
This congregation affirms.
"rejects — Rejected. Only believers may be baptized. Infant "baptism" is considered unbiblical — no NT command or clear example supports it."
Inherited from denomination
What Southern Baptist Convention teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Confessional standard: 1689 London Baptist Confession
Affirms
- Believer's BaptismSTRONGBaptist confessions; Pentecostal fundamentals; Anabaptist tradition
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriagestandardMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
Denies
- Apostolic SuccessionstandardCongregational and presbyterian polity reject the necessity of tactile episcopal succession.
- Assumption of MarystandardUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Infant BaptismSTRONGBaptist confessions (New Hampshire; BFM 2000 VII); Anabaptist / Schleitheim; Pentecostal fundamentals
- Perpetual Virginity of MarystandardNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- Real PresencestandardMemorialist / Zwinglian view; typical Baptist and Free Church position
- TransubstantiationSTRONGOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeSTRONG1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34; historic apostolic practice.
Wrestles with
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
In their own words
Statements
statement_of_faith
<!DOCTYPE html> Beliefs | Foothills Church Give Find a Small Group Find A Location Maryville Knoxville About Mission & Vision Meet Pastor Trent Beliefs History Kids Students College Weekday Preschool Get Involved Volunteer The Journey Baptism Jobs Groups Counseling Outreach Sermons Events Resources Give to the Vision Contact BELIEFS The Essentials We Believe i. god God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. a.Source ↗
mission
Vision | Foothills Church Give Find a Small Group Find A Location Maryville Knoxville About Mission & Vision Meet Pastor Trent Beliefs History Kids Students College Weekday Preschool Get Involved Volunteer The Journey Baptism Jobs Groups Counseling Outreach Sermons Events Resources Give to the Vision Contact Our Mission and Vision Our Mission Make disciples. Jesus told us what to do, and it has never changed. He told us to "make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19). His mission, or what many refer to as the "great commission," is true for every church, whether they accomplish it or not. "Source ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> Pastor Trent | Foothills Church Give Find a Small Group Find A Location Maryville Knoxville About Mission & Vision Meet Pastor Trent Beliefs History Kids Students College Weekday Preschool Get Involved Volunteer The Journey Baptism Jobs Groups Counseling Outreach Sermons Events Resources Give to the Vision Contact Dr. Trenton J Stewart Lead Pastor Dr. Trent Stewart is the lead pastor of Foothills Church, a multisite church in East TN. Pastor Trent planted FC in 2009 with the support of Grace Baptist Church in Knoxville andSource ↗
about
Pastor Trent | Foothills Church Give Find a Small Group Find A Location Maryville Knoxville About Mission & Vision Meet Pastor Trent Beliefs History Kids Students College Weekday Preschool Get Involved Volunteer The Journey Baptism Jobs Groups Counseling Outreach Sermons Events Resources Give to the Vision Contact Dr. Trenton J Stewart Lead Pastor Dr. Trent Stewart is the lead pastor of Foothills Church, a multisite church in East TN. Pastor Trent planted FC in 2009 with the support of Grace Baptist Church in Knoxville and Pastor Trent’s father, Dr. Ron Stewart – the longtime leadSource ↗
beliefs
Beliefs | Foothills Church Give Find a Small Group Find A Location Maryville Knoxville About Mission & Vision Meet Pastor Trent Beliefs History Kids Students College Weekday Preschool Get Involved Volunteer The Journey Baptism Jobs Groups Counseling Outreach Sermons Events Resources Give to the Vision Contact BELIEFS The Essentials We Believe i. god God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. a. god the father God as Father reigns with providential care over His univSource ↗
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