Wake Forest Baptist Church — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Jeff P. Mathis

Founded Verify

Denomination SBC (BSCNC)

Service Times Sunday Worship — verify times on website

Men's Ministry No

Kids Ministry Yes

Website wakeforestbaptistchurch.org

Pastor Credentials Senior Pastor since January 2024; Dr.

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

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

Moderate-Baptist orthodox confession

Caution

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

Use of 'Pastor' title for ordained women conflicts with 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

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?

Rev. Emily Patton McLamb formally titled 'Pastor to Children & Families' (joined 2023, transitioned from interim to full pastor status). Rev. Dr. Diana Greene serves as Interim Minister of Music & Worship.

Pastor to Children & Families: Rev. Emily Patton McLamb (female; joined 2023). Interim Minister of Music & Worship: Rev. Dr. Diana Greene. Children/families pastoral office uses the formal title 'Pastor.'

WARNING!

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Senior pastor is male (Jeff P. Mathis, Jan 2024) but children/families pastoral office is filled by a woman with the formal title 'Pastor'

WARNING!

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

Senior preaching pulpit currently filled by a male senior pastor

Caution

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Mission funding flows to BSCNC and CBFNC dual-channel

Caution

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

Located on the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary campus historically, but church polity is moderate/CBFNC-leaning

WARNING!

Accountability Structure

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

Listed in SBC.net Churches Directory and on the BSCNC roster as of 2024-2025; female 'Pastor' titling places the congregation in direct conflict with BF&M 2000 Article VI

WARNING!

Assessment

Wake Forest Baptist Church (Wake Forest NC) called Dr. Jeff P. Mathis as Senior Pastor in January 2024 and lists Rev. Emily Patton McLamb as 'Pastor to Children & Families' on its current staff page — joined 2023 in interim capacity, since transitioned to the full pastoral title. The church is listed in the SBC.net Churches Directory and partners with the Baptist State Convention of NC and CBFNC. The use of 'Pastor' (not 'Minister') in formal staff titling for a woman places this SBC-affiliated congregation — historically located on the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary campus footprint — in direct conflict with BF&M 2000 Article VI.

#sbc#drift#female-pastor#credentials-committee-referral#dual-aligned-cbf#nc#wake-forest#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. Female 'Pastor' titling on a sitting staff page (not a removed page). Distinct from any 'First Baptist Wake Forest' or 'Wake Union Baptist' record.

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 wakeforestbaptistchurch.org
[2] Live source wakeforestbaptistchurch.org/meet-our-staff/
[3] Live source churches.sbc.net/church/wake-forest-baptist-church/
[4] Live source wakeforestbaptistchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Je…

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.