About Central Baptist Church
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Central Baptist Church has been in existence for 170 years engaging in preaching, teaching, and ministry to the community of Saint Louis, Missouri, and vicinity. Since our ecclesiastical foreparents asked for permission to start a work from the Mother Church of Baptists in this area, First Baptist, those twenty-three slaves and free persons started Second African Baptist Church with Reverend Richard Sneethen on March 22, 1846. Since our pebble of religious significance was a drop in the ocean of church history, Central Baptist Church rippling effect has been felt across the city, state, and country as we engage in kingdom building to the glory of God.
Pier, Charis, and I are more than blessed to be part of a great church historically, ecclesiastically, and socially. As the twelfth pastor serving the thirteenth pastoral term, I have been amazed at God’s keeping power of this remarkable congregation. From the pre-Civil War days with Harriet and Dred Scott to the Civil War, Reconstruction, Segregation, World War 1, the Depression, World War 2, the Civil Rights Movement, the fire that destroyed our church, and the storm that caused us to have to renovate back in 2007, we have been blessed by the Founder of the Church, Jesus Christ, to still stand and see the salvation of God. We have been blessed to have religious, political, and social dignitaries to bless our pulpit from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, Reverend Dr. Harry Blake, Senior AME Bishop John R. Bryant, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Reverend Dr. William Watley, Dr. William Curtis (Past President, Hampton Ministers Conference) Bishop Joseph Walker III, Dr. Charles E. Booth, Dr. Jasmin Sculark, Dr. Julius Scruggs (Immediate Past President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.) and our current President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Dr. Jerry Young.
As we celebrate 170 years of existence, let’s be committed to reflecting and remembering those who paved the way for us. As we commemorate our past, we must also chart the course of our future through the engagement of our young adults, youth, and children as we make disciples and transform lives. Central is an intergenerational church with a great socio-economic and racial mix in pew and leadership. Disciples like Dr. James Whittico who serve as President of the National Medical Association; Sister Mary Polk, well known in St. Louis social circles; and Deacon Steve and Deaconess Estella Whitney who have been married for over 70 years are a few of the pillars giving us strength and hope for our present through the fruitful seasons of their lives.
I don’t know when the Lord will return, but until then, my prayer is this wonderful, powerful, worshiping, redemptive community of faith will continue to be a purpose driven church creating purpose living disciples engaging in five-star ministry for building the kingdom of God. I am blessed and privileged to be a shepherd in the lineage of great pastors of a great church among a great people. God bless, empower, and keep the Central Baptist Church.
Because of the Resurrection,
Reverend Dr. Robert C. Scott
Senior Pastor (1999 - Present)
