Common Ground Church — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Gregg Jennings (Lead Pastor); Melissa Southall (Worship & Outreach Pastor, ordained 2021)

Founded ~2004 (21 years as a mobile church; 12 years at The Old Silk Mill, 1707 Princess Anne St; moved to Washington Ave permanent home Feb 2025)

Denomination Independent

Service Times Sundays 10:00 AM at 1501 Washington Ave; Easter: 6:30 AM river service + 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Sanctuary services

Men's Ministry Yes

Kids Ministry Yes

Website www.commongroundva.com

Pastor Credentials Gregg Jennings: BA Ozark Christian College; MA Religion + MA Global Missions, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Lead Pastor since 2009

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)

Gordon-Conwell trained lead pastor; Ozark Christian College background. Christ-centered mission language throughout. No pluralism indicators.

Strong

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

Gordon-Conwell is a conservative evangelical seminary (D.A. Carson's home school), which suggests solid Scripture foundations. However, no inerrancy statement found; independent church context means local stance needs confirmation.

Caution

Men's Discipleship

Intentional formation for men?

Explicit 'Pour In Spirit: Men's Night' events on calendar — active men's programming.

Strong

Soteriology

Faith alone? How is salvation presented?

Gordon-Conwell training and evangelical church DNA imply faith-alone. No explicit statement found publicly.

Strong

Gender / Biblical Design

Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?

Melissa Southall serves as Worship & Outreach Pastor and was ordained in 2021. Female ordained staff in a named pastoral role indicates egalitarian practice regardless of lead pastor being male. Red — women serving in ordained pastoral authority.

Female ordained staff — Worship & Outreach Pastor (Melissa Southall, ordained 2021)

WARNING!

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Church elders are mentioned on the leadership page (not enumerated publicly). Gregg Jennings is lead pastor. Independent; no formal denominational accountability outside local elder board.

Caution

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

No sermon library readily available to evaluate preaching style. 21-year track record suggests substance over novelty.

Caution

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Gregg holds an MA in Global Missions from Gordon-Conwell; Great Commission language is present: 'glorify God, emulate Christ and serve our beautiful city.'

Strong

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

Tagline 'make as much room at the table of Christ as possible' could signal inclusive-table theology or just genuine hospitality. Self-describes as 'a bit messy' (from new home announcement). No DEI/CRT language found, but the inclusive framing bears watching.

Caution

Accountability Structure

Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?

Fully independent. No denominational accountability beyond internal elders.

Caution

Assessment

Common Ground Church has a compelling origin story: 21 years as a mobile congregation finally receiving a permanent home — the historic First Christian Church building on Washington Ave, gifted free of charge by a 100-year-old congregation choosing to bless its successor. That kind of kingdom generosity, and CG's decision to then give their former meeting house (The Old Silk Mill space) to a Filipino congregation, shows genuine missional health. Lead Pastor Gregg Jennings trained at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (among the most rigorous conservative evangelical seminaries), studied both Theology and Global Missions, and has pastored CG since 2009. The church has elders, active ministries including a men's night, kids, and youth programs. Main yellow flags: Melissa Southall holds a staff pastoral title and was ordained in 2021 (female ordained pastor in a worship/outreach role); the inclusive table language may reflect a broad-welcome posture or a softer ecclesiology — worth hearing a sermon and asking Gregg directly about his complementarian convictions and Scripture inerrancy. Overall a promising, established community church worth visiting.

#non-denominational#evangelical#gordon-conwell#downtown-fredericksburg#washington-ave#mobile-church-history#mens-night#new-home-2025