Capitol Hill Baptist Church — Attraction in Washington

Great for visitors to D.C. but come early to get the high-in-demand seats.

Great for joining in the long term or for 6month etc. I've discovered Capitol Hill Baptist Church is a star of church function and practice, relying on God and the scriptures for running services and Church life, and trying to make everything about knowing Jesus. The loving community is very large and ethnically diverse. While it takes time for you to be integrated into the Church upon calling this church yours due to the amount of people and visitors always around the church, the process of membership ensures that nobody gets left out or is treated unequally. Committing to be a member here I discovered is how the pastoral staff and plurality of elders knows you want to grow in friendships and fellowship in this Church and that you are staying around. This Church specializes in ecclesiology, training members and interns, and how the gospel is at the center of everything important, being essential to life or death. Organic outreaches, ministry, discipleship, and growth is encouraged and sustained by its large member base. You will find that most members come back even for the 5pm prayer/evening service (different content from the morning one) and also that members are committed to attendance and prayer. Head Pastor Mark Dever, an elder, or a visiting elder/pastor gives thought engaging sermons that are expositional and based on the text, not wandering into myths or relying on tradition. Dever when he preaches is pronounced and clear, especially about the gospel message being included in the sermon for your friends (and YOU) to hear if you invite them, a graduate of Duke/Cambridge, who's friendly demeanor and loving concern for his congregation, encourage introspection and growth in believers. Non-Christians are very welcome here and are treated no different than believers, while being encouraged in the sermon to think deeply about the realities and truths that govern our shared world, and what the Creator did to demonstrate his love for us, and why that is everyone's concern, whoever you are. I have just started going there a year or so, came looking for a church, and, after trying many different ones, was blessed to find this one.

(Bonus Visitor's Information: 9:30am Core Seminars (Adult Sunday School Classes) 10:30am Main Service, 5pm afternoon prayer/evening service Wednesday, 7pm hour Church Bible study, Childcare available during Sunday mornings and maybe other times)

(Other Atmosphere Attributes: Service is Contemporary in relevance and traditional in music (congregational singing is so cool to hear), Coffee and Cookies (yum) lots of young people, lots of older people, lots of different countries and ethnic groups represented, diverse political population (Reps & Dems), diverse in walks of life represented (homeless to capitol building), scientists, politicians, teachers, workers, businessmen, and more. about 1000 members, if you are visiting, come early to get a seat, there is often little extra room and it can feel crowded, but a member would be glad to offer you their seat, the nearest metro is Eastern Market (Orange, Silver, Blue lines) the bus goes near here too, Parking is hard to find, but you can find it, its free on the streets. The neighborhood is big and residential, short walk to multiple lunch options and unique shops, the capitol building, and union station. Secure Bike rack available (I bike). Visitors can ask any question about the sermon or something else to elders or the person who preached that day because after service they stand at the door, the preacher will be in the back right away from stage, near the cookies and staircase, ready to talk to you.) Bonus Bonus Information: If you are fast, there are nice bakery cupcakes down stairs after service...

I did not think I would be writing a negative review prior to my attending CHBC. The songs were not heretical and the main sermons were by talented polished speakers, but I don't think they believe what they preach, and the preaching was not very expository. They always start out their sermons with an entertaining "relevant" story, so that is rather telling to me. It is amazing how woke everything has become in such a short time. I attended CHBC for 3-4 months. I was one of the first to come and one of the last to leave every Sunday. I attended Sunday School, church, and went to the evening services. After the main service they always mentioned the visitors' area for coffee and fellowship, so I think it's notable that during my time there, not once did any pastor ever set foot in that room. The Sunday school classes were also a surprise for me. They were not always well attended. The first class I went to only had 6 people in it. The classes are also not very expository. They do summaries. For example, I went to what I thought was going to be a weeks-long class on Proverbs only to find out the next week that it was just one class. So, too the following week, I went to a class where they did 2 books in one class, Song of Songs & Ecclesiastes. I went to a class on suffering, where in one class they handed out a hypothetical example of suffering where a business owner lost his business. What an odd thing to do, to use a hypothetical example of suffering with no Biblical reference as a way to have a discussion about suffering. Does the Bible not have ample examples of actual suffering? I didn't even feel like I was in a church. In this same class they had a woman counselor come give a class about what she has learned as a counselor, she covered the sins of some men but did not broach any sins by women. So, a woman teaching a class to men along with her comments seemed quite egalitarian if not feminist. "The Sin of Empathy" comes to mind. In another class about marriage, one of the older pastors put forward a view of Genesis 3 whereby it was plain he had not read many commentaries. There were, as was typical, several pastors-in-training in the class who never made any comments. I make mention of this since it seems they are a personality driven church whereby people listen to teaching without studying it for themselves. The evening services were also not typically expository. One young pastor gave what I guess he considered a sermon where went on about their church statistics (members will immediately know who I am talking about). This would have been more appropriate for a church meeting not a church service. I did not appreciate having my children listen to statistics when they should be hearing God's Word - the evening services typically had a shortage of childcare workers so even young children are at the service. I asked yet another young pastor, who gave an evening message what commentaries he used. He stated he didn't make use of any commentaries. On another occasion I came across 3 members who put forward black/liberation theology; they were corrected by a pastor but this was still rather bizarre. From what I have since learned about CHBC and some of their liberal/democratic views my observances are less surprising to me in hindsight, but it was a shock at the time. And it is discouraging. So, I want to sound a warning to those who might venture into CHBC or any church for that matter. Is there anyone left who fears God and trembles...

Wonderful example of how a church is supposed to be. I highly recommend the experience.

Update: A couple years or so have passed since I made this review. If you view the church from the outside this would be any good Christian's perception and for the most part, this true. However, there will always be that one (or few) person or, "clique," that want you to, "Christian Like Me," and then give you the silent treatment for doing your own thing. Like, if I say I can't go to an event then that's exactly what I mean. It doesn't put my faith on line. It just means I'm unable to attend. It really doesn't matter why I can't go. I just can't. That's an unchanging reality.

And maybe it's my Autism or this city, but aside from a few people I was able to get to know there and the head pastor, I've met so many fake-nice people (people who feel they have to be nice until they just can't anymore? And then switch back to being nice?) it became uncomfortable for me. They talked a lot about helping their community but it seems their community only extends to people they like and trust. At the moment in any case which is typical DC. I don't know why I expected to not find it here but, I suppose I'm still optimistic.

For example; I was going through a very difficult time in my life some years ago and became so depressed I stopped leaving the house. I didn't get a phone call, an email or a text. I think I got a short one, earlier this year or something, but it was literally one line and very impersonal at best. Like it was sent in a mass email with the other addresses left out on the receiving end. An afterthougt. I suppose I wasn't liked or seemed trustworthy? 😕 And before anyone asks, they had my number and addresses.

What people do matters just as much as what people say. I think this a struggle among all churches/Christians and not just this one. I'm just advising you use discernment and, if you're "uncomfortable" in large crowds, this is probably the worst place for you to be anyway. Holidays are usually OVERcrowded. The best time to go if you really just want to learn and get any scriptural word, Bible study on Sundays is early in the mornings before service. They have classes you can take, sign up for. All very nice. I would've gone back but I moved and it's encouraged not to attend if you live closer to one of their sister churches. This church has my respect especially for not shutting down in 2020, but I shan't be going back at this point and, if I'm being honest, it's put me off bothering with church or people in general. Thankfully, I do have my faith (or relationship with God) and that's got me through a lot. Maybe I'll find a better fellowship with a Nigerian church.

I am not condemning this church though. Just the actions of some people. I know I will always be the outsider in any social gathering and this is an expected result but, there shouldn't always have to be a meaningless disconnect/divide between people. Let people be themselves and let yourself be who you are. Even if youre mean. Just be honest and upfront about it. Also, if you have a lot of Sensory Issues, prepare accordingly (Noise Canceling Headphones, fidget toys, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, snacks, water, getting there earlier for seating, leaving earlier to avoid large crowds, etc.) and never change yourself to make others comfortable. It's futile and a waste of your precious energy. Always be yourself, be honest, and be discerning....