First Baptist Church
of Hamilton, New York

Founded in 1796, First Baptist is an American Baptist church with an ecumenical congregation. First is the "Mother Church" of Colgate University.

2009 Pastor's Report

Rev. Dr. John Morris, Interim Pastor

This has been a year of change for First Baptist.  April came with our Pastor Joe Glaze's announcement that he would be leaving with his wife, Jenny, for Arlington, Virginia and leaving the pastorate of First Baptist.  We said farewell to Joe at a Service on May 17th remembering so many wonderful years of service to us at First Baptist.  It was not an easy task to fill the spot that Joe had held at the Church but Sandra Carter’s persuasiveness brought me into the fold.

It has been a stimulating and, in many ways, an exciting year in your midst.  Your cordial welcome of a retired Presbyterian academic as your pastor helped me enormously to become a part of the congregation very quickly and easily.

The work of the Pulpit Committee in its search for a new Pastor must be commended.  The committee, Co-Chaired by Dan Saulsgiver and Rob Schutt, worked tirelessly and consistently.  It is testimony to their excellent work that they were able to bring to the congregation the recommendation that the Reverend Wes Smith be called to serve First Baptist as Pastor.  It was a wonderful beginning to the new year that we were able to say that our new pastor would take up his work here on April 11th as he takes up his residence here in Hamilton with his wife Joyce and Joyce's mother, Gerry Halliday.

One of the remarkable things about the last year has been the work of the Committees of the Church.  They have enabled the work of the Church to continue smoothly.  The Deacons, paying a great deal of attention to the needs of the congregation, the Trustees taking care of the finances that enable us to continue our operations, the Mission Board, with its caring outreach beyond our immediate family, continued its work with the civic groups in Hamilton and Madison and in its support of the Mission of the church -- outlined in its report; the Christian Education Board, with its consistently important work with our young people, the Music Committee, fostering the music we hear each Sunday -- all these Boards and Committees have been so important to the day to day work of First Baptist.  Special mention needs to be made of Cindy Martin and Chris Warren.  They bring a quality and standard of music to our worship that is outstanding.  Lastly, let us not forget Kerri Woods who faithfully gave the Children's Lesson each Sunday during worship with insight and charm.

We have continued our ecumenical outreach, and also our community involvement.  These are significant and important elements of our outreach.

As the new year begins we look forward to the coming of our new pastor and our continued work together.

First Baptist Church
27 Broad Street
PO Box 73
Hamilton, New York 13346
315-824-2780