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Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)

Tabernacle Baptist Church

1925 Grove Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
RED — CBF-affiliated with female associate pastor (prior research); CBF freedoms rhetoric and egalitarian governance disqualifying per rubric
Quick Facts
Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Rev. Sterling W. Severns (Senior Pastor)
Founded Unknown
Denomination Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)
Service Times Sunday Worship 11:00 AM
Men's Ministry No
Kids Ministry Yes
Website www.tbcrichmond.org
Pastor Credentials Verify
10-Point Theological Scorecard
Christology
Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)
Trinitarian Baptist church -- no concerns.
Strong
Scripture
Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?
CBF churches vary on inerrancy; verify directly.
Caution
Men's Discipleship
Intentional formation for men?
No men's ministry found.
WARNING!
Soteriology
Faith alone? How is salvation presented?
Baptist soteriology presumed orthodox.
Strong
Gender / Biblical Design
Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?
Female associate pastor (April Kennedy) documented in prior research; unrefuted by homepage content. Red flag confirmed.
WARNING!
Leadership Structure
Male elders/pastors? Accountability?
Mixed male/female pastoral staff.
Caution
Preaching Style
Expository or topical/therapeutic?
Verify -- no sermon samples reviewed.
Caution
Mission Clarity
Great Commission central?
Active community outreach (food pantry, clothes closet).
Caution
Cultural Alignment
DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?
Tagline 'Discovering God's abundance through the gift of community' is vague — CBF-style framing. Verify further via staff page.
Caution
Accountability Structure
Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?
CBF affiliation persists (prior-batch tag). CBF departed SBC over inerrancy and women-in-ministry issues — disqualifying per YELLOW→RED flip rule (CBF 'freedoms' rhetoric + egalitarian governance).
Caution
Assessment
Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond's Fan District is affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), not the SBC. CBF churches generally affirm women in pastoral ministry and ordination. The church has an associate pastor named April Kennedy. CBF affiliation signals egalitarian leanings on gender roles. No explicit LGBTQ affirmation found, but CBF alignment warrants caution for complementarian-minded men. Verify doctrinal positions directly.
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MOOP Engagement Tracker

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

✓ Researched church website
Last reviewed: 2026-05-16 — Annual review recommended
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