Hayes Barton Baptist Church — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable David J. Hailey

Founded 1926

Denomination SBC (BSCNC) / CBF dual-aligned

Service Times Sunday Worship — verify times on website

Men's Ministry No

Kids Ministry Yes

Website hbbc.org

Pastor Credentials Senior Pastor; Dr.

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

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

Moderate-Baptist orthodox confession

Caution

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

Open use of 'Pastor' title for women in conflict with the SBC's BF&M 2000 reading of 1 Tim 2:12 / Article VI

WARNING!

Men's Discipleship

Intentional formation for men?

No documented complementarian men-only discipleship structure under male-only eldership

WARNING!

Soteriology

Faith alone? How is salvation presented?

Standard moderate-Baptist evangelical confession

Caution

Gender / Biblical Design

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

Two ordained women carry the formal title 'Pastor' on staff: Rev. Kristen Muse (Executive Pastor since 2011) and Rev. Sarah Mears (Associate Pastor of Children and Families and Communication)

Executive Pastor: Rev. Kristen Muse (female, on staff since 2003, Executive Pastor since 2011). Associate Pastor of Children and Families and Communication: Rev. Sarah Mears (female). Both formally use the title 'Pastor.'

WARNING!

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Female Executive Pastor — second-in-command pastoral office — held by a woman; ordained female Associate Pastor on family-ministry track

WARNING!

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

Senior preaching pulpit currently filled by a male senior pastor; female pastors do supply preach and routine pastoral acts

Caution

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Mission funding flows to BSCNC, Raleigh Baptist Association, CBFNC, and CBF — a deliberate dual-alignment posture

Caution

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

Self-identifies as 'moderate tradition'; CBF/CBFNC primary mission alignment

WARNING!

Accountability Structure

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

Listed in SBC.net Churches Directory and on Baptist State Convention of NC roster as of 2024-2025; simultaneously listed by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC. SBC Credentials Committee has so far declined to recommend disfellowship of churches in this 'female support pastor' category.

WARNING!

Assessment

Hayes Barton Baptist (Raleigh NC) is a 1926-founded congregation dual-aligned with the Baptist State Convention of NC (SBC's NC state convention) and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The senior pulpit is occupied by Dr. David J. Hailey (male), but two ordained women carry the formal title 'Pastor' on staff — Rev. Kristen Muse as Executive Pastor (since 2011) and Rev. Sarah Mears as Associate Pastor of Children and Families and Communication. Muse was interviewed in 2024 specifically as an example of a female SBC pastor whose role would be banned under the Law Amendment that subsequently failed. The use of 'Pastor' (not 'Minister') in formal staff titling places the congregation in direct conflict with BF&M 2000 Article VI while remaining nominally SBC-cooperating.

#sbc#drift#female-pastor#credentials-committee-referral#dual-aligned-cbf#nc#raleigh#needs-review

MOOP Engagement Tracker

How this church was personally verified by the MOOP directory team:

✓ Researched church website

Sources & Evidence

Enrichment Notes

Live SBC.net directory listing as of 2025; female pastors with explicit 'Pastor' titling. Distinct from the existing 'First Baptist Church Raleigh NC' black-rated record at 99 N Salisbury St — Hayes Barton is at 1800 Glenwood Ave in the Five Points neighborhood.

These are the URLs consulted to arrive at this church's scoring. Score-note claims are synthesized from homepage content, denominational directories, and public statements of faith at the time of review. Church websites change frequently; we're progressively adding Internet Archive snapshots to prevent link rot.

[1] Live source hbbc.org
[2] Live source hbbc.org/meet-the-staff/
[3] Live source hbbc.org/affiliations/
[4] Live source churches.sbc.net/church/hayes-barton-baptist-church/
[5] Live source npr.org/2024/06/12/nx-s1-5002004/southern-baptist-convent…

Transparency note: MOOP ratings are researcher judgments about publicly available theological and ecclesial evidence. They are not infallible. If a church's public posture has changed since our review, or if we've mis-read evidence, tell us — we publish corrections.