A Progressive Baptist Congregation on Hillsborough Street
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church has stood at 1801 Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh since 1923, when the congregation moved from its original South Raleigh location to a site chosen to be near the campuses of NC State, Meredith College, and the Governor Morehead School. More than a century after its founding, Pullen is known across the region as a progressive, justice-oriented Baptist congregation where the rallying cry "Build a bigger table, not a higher fence" shapes everything from Sunday worship to community organizing. Pastor Nancy Petty leads a community that has spent decades asking what it means to be Baptist while leaning into questions of inclusion, interfaith engagement, and public witness.
From a South Raleigh Mission to a Hillsborough Street Landmark
A mission of First Baptist Church began in South Raleigh in May 1884 under the leadership of John T. Pullen. The mission organized as Fayetteville Street Baptist Church on December 28, 1884. After Pullen died on May 2, 1913, the congregation renamed itself Pullen Memorial Baptist Church five days later. A 1921 fire destroyed the church's building, and two weeks later members were holding services in Pullen Hall on the NC State campus. They moved into their current building on February 11, 1923, with the explicit intention of ministering to college students.
Stability of pastoral leadership came with J.A. Ellis in 1919, the first Pullen pastor to apply the gospel to controversial social issues. He was followed by E. McNeill Poteat Jr., whose emphasis on what came to be called "Social Christianity" and whose role in organizing the North Carolina Council of Churches in 1935 put Pullen on the map as an ecumenical outlier among Southern Baptists. W. W. Finlator, called in 1956, hardened that reputation through public stands on race, organized labor, war, and capital punishment. In 1958 a new constitution declared the church open to all regardless of race, and in 1967 Pullen joined the American Baptist Churches, USA. On October 30, 1977, after years of contact with Coventry Cathedral in England, Pullen was designated a center of the Community of the Cross of Nails.
In 1987, when conservative shifts reshaped the Southern Baptist Convention, several Pullen members joined others in creating the Alliance of Baptists as a progressive alternative. In 1992, after extended prayer and conversation, Pullen endorsed unqualified acceptance of gay and lesbian Christians. Within the year the congregation was excluded from the Raleigh Baptist Association, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Mahan Siler's pastorate (1983 to 1998) brought an emphasis on pastoral care and a growing staff. Jack McKinney was named pastor in 2000, and on April 21, 2002, the church called longtime staff member Nancy E. Petty to serve alongside him, becoming Pullen's first female pastor. McKinney resigned in 2009, and Petty has served as sole pastor since.
The Prophetic Touchstone
Pullen describes itself as a progressive faith community "deeply rooted in the heart of Raleigh, committed to love, and laboring for justice." The congregation's "Prophetic Touchstone" is anchored in Micah 6:8 - "What does God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Three commitments shape this touchstone:
- Radical Vision: "You are loved, You are enough." Pullen affirms that there are many paths to God, values the questions of faith that confront and nurture, and considers what Jesus teaches about God more important than what the church has taught about Jesus.
- Radical Community: A statement of welcome names specific identities and experiences - the Certain and the Doubtful, the Excluded and the Included, Atheist, Agnostic, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Hindu, Jewish or Nothing, Heterosexual, Homosexual and Transgender, African-American, Asian, Latino, Citizens and Guests.
- Radical Hospitality: "We seek to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. Our faith calls us to stand up for the poor, oppressed, marginalized and those disenfranchised by the church, the community and the world."
The church cherishes the "four fragile freedoms" of Baptist heritage - soul freedom, Bible freedom, religious freedom, and church freedom - and affirms the Bible as "a primary source for our beliefs and practice, but it is a book to be engaged, not worshiped." The church's motto is "Radically reclaiming justice-love."
Sunday Morning at Pullen
Sunday worship gathers at 11 am in the Sanctuary and online. The bulletin invites newcomers to "gather, sing, pray, read from Holy Scripture, hear an uplifting message, and go forth to change the world." Music is described as "congregational, choral, instrumental, inclusive, and engaging." Worship blends Christian roots and Baptist heritage while fostering interfaith connections, and includes spoken word, silence, music, poetry, dance, and visual expressions. The community uses inclusive and gender-expansive language throughout, and leadership is shared among clergy and laypersons. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, with the table described as a "Table of Love" open to all regardless of belief. Baptism typically occurs on Easter morning through immersion, though all baptism traditions are affirmed.
Before worship, children gather at the chancel steps at 10:40 am for a brief centering experience with stories and activities. Children's Worship, a Montessori-inspired storytelling service for grades 1 through 3, meets during the 11 am service except on first Sundays. Preschool Care runs from 9:30 am to noon for infants through pre-K. Sunday Groups meet at 9:30 am for all ages, with adults on the third floor and children and youth on the first floor. The Worship Choir rehearses at 10 am in the Chapel.
The building offers a wheelchair-accessible entrance with an elevator outside Finlator Hall, wheelchairs at the entrance, accessible restrooms on the second floor, hearing aids, and large print worship guides. Single-stall restrooms are available on the first and second floors, and visitors are invited to "use the restroom that aligns with your gender identity."
What to Wear, Where to Park
Pullen's guidance for newcomers on dress is simple: "Anything you want; be your authentic self. You will see everything from jeans to neckties." Visitors are not singled out during worship. A receiving line after the service offers the chance to meet a minister, and anyone can fill out a connect card to receive a follow-up call. A parking map is available.
Wednesday Nights at The Table
Wednesday evenings revolve around The Table, a community dinner in Finlator Hall beginning at 5:30 pm. Dinner runs until about 6:15 pm at $10 for adults and youth, $5 for kids, and $30 max per family, with vegetarian options. Programming follows for adults on topics in faith, justice, and the human experience. While adults are at the table, Kids Quest gathers preschoolers through fifth grade, and Youth Group meets for grades 6 through 12 in Room 111-B from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, with a community dinner beforehand at 5:30 pm.
Kids Ministry
The children's programs aim to help children "experience and learn about God" through Bible stories and contemporary sources. Pullen Kids Sunday Groups, for kindergarten through fifth grade, meet most Sundays at 9:30 am in Rooms 122 with experiential learning focused on compassion, justice, and peace. Children's Worship runs during the 11 am service for grades 1 through 3 in Room 126. Preschool Care is available from 9:30 am to noon for infants through pre-K in Rooms 117, 118, and 120.
Beyond Sunday morning, children participate in Camp Pullen, an Advent Wreath Making project and lunch, Breakfast with the Bunny held with the Alexander Family YMCA, a Kids Retreat at Camp Agape in Fuquay-Varina, a Parents' Day Out, and a Project Linus blanket-making luncheon. Pullen PALs (Parents and Littles) hosts Wednesday storytime for parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers and a monthly family dinner at Transfer Co. Food Hall. The Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education program is offered for grades K through 1 and grades 4 through 5. Tommy Cook, Minister with Children and Their Families, oversees the program.
Youth Ministry
Pullen's Youth Ministry serves grades 6 through 12 and aims to help youth "navigate the transition from childhood to young adulthood." Youth Sunday Group meets Sundays from 9:30 to 10:30 am in Room 111-B (HOST space), and Youth Group meets Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the same room, with dinner beforehand. The year includes a Youth Retreat at Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores, a Youth Lock-in, a Christmas Cookie Decorating afternoon, a Back to School Clothing Drive for A Note in the Pocket, and a pool party to launch the season. Issa Farhoud, Minister with Youth and Their Families, leads the program.
Young-ish Adults
Pullen's Young-ish Adults Group gathers on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm in Finlator Hall to "share the stories of our lives and discuss topics that matter to us." On the fourth Sunday of each month, the group walks from the church to Players Retreat on Oberlin Road for a casual lunch. LGBTQIA+ college students are invited to Brave Space, which meets Thursday evenings at 6 pm in Poteat Chapel for food and conversation.
Adult Formation
Sunday Groups meet at 9:30 am and rotate through the year. Past offerings have included Foundations for Faith (a Bible study led by a diverse teaching team), Pullen 101 (an introduction to Pullen's history, values, and ministries), three-week explorations of prophetic voices in biblical studies, and seasonal Advent studies. The Azelene Medlin Memorial Library, open whenever the church is, offers books, reference materials, periodicals, and videos with easy self-checkout.
Pullen Mission Women gathers on the first Tuesday of each month at 10 am in Room 310 and on Zoom. Circles meet for fellowship, devotions, and programs, and support local and international causes including the Hope Center at Pullen, Urban Ministries Food Pantry, AMOS Health and Hope in Nicaragua, Housing All, FIGS prescription assistance, the Helen Wright Center for Women, Pullen's own Round Table, Emmaus House for Men, the Arise Collective, and the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. Members maintain Pullen's connection to Church Women United. A Men's Group meets on Wednesdays from September through May at 6:30 pm in the Library for discussion of podcasts, readings, and current events.
Music Ministry
Larry E. Schultz serves as Minister of Music and Ju Kim as Church Organist/Pianist. The Worship Choir rehearses at 10:15 am on most Sundays in Room 203, with no prerequisites or prior rehearsals; youth and adults sing together. A Summer Worship Choir lifts voices through the summer months. The Resonance Choir, Caroling Christmas Choir, and Pullen Pickers Open Jam offer additional opportunities. The Adult Festival Choir and Youth Festival Choir prepare music for festival weekends and lead worship several times a year. The Pullen Podcast carries sermons on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Earth Ministry and Creation Care
Pullen's commitment to caring for creation traces back to 1999, when three members organized the Earth Care Mission Group and Sunday School Class. Linda and Bob Rodriguez led the program from 2005 through 2016 and helped integrate geothermal heating and cooling, daylighting, a rooftop garden, and a rainwater cistern into the church building expansion. In 2018 the Earth Ministries Advocacy Group emerged; it runs a comprehensive composting program that diverts an average of 6,000 pounds of organic waste from the landfill each year and publishes regular articles on creation care. Earth Ministry also spawned Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle, a network now spanning more than 100 faith communities. The group meets the first Monday of each month at 7 pm on Zoom.
Round Table and Local Outreach
Pullen organizes its local work through several ministries. Round Table Fellowship welcomes people experiencing homelessness or food insecurity on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 2 pm with snack lunches and hospitality; Jan Crouch coordinates Tuesday and Ginny Going coordinates Thursday. The Pullen Meals Ministry delivers one to three meals to members recovering from illness or a death in the family when their personal networks need support. Pullen Mission Women collects non-perishable food for the Urban Ministries Food Pantry and toiletries for migrant farmworkers through the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry.
The Missions and Outreach Council has identified three local nonprofit partnerships to prioritize over a five-year horizon. ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-ethnic, multi-issue coalition of religious congregations and nonprofits in Wake County working on affordable housing, homelessness support, and wealth equity. Partners for Environmental Justice restores urban wetlands like Walnut Creek and addresses environmental inequities in Southeast Raleigh. Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH) fosters collaboration, queer and trans community support, mutual aid, and disaster relief. Pullen also hosts HOST (Housing Options for Students Today), which recruits host homes in Wake County to provide college students with safe, private bedrooms and recently welcomed its first Executive Director.
International Partnerships
Pullen describes its international partnerships as "ministries of accompaniment rooted in mutuality and solidarity." Four long-standing companionships extend the congregation's reach across ten time zones. The Peace Cathedral in the Republic of Georgia is an interfaith community of peacemakers - a mosque, synagogue, and church in one building - that advocates for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and provides safe haven for refugees near the war in Ukraine. First Baptist Church of Matanzas, Cuba, is one of the first LGBTQIA+ affirming congregations in Cuba; its Kairos Center provides meals, music classes, and community outreach. The Community of the Cross of Nails, born from Coventry Cathedral's post-war reconciliation, has included Pullen as a center since 1977, and Pullen has had continuous representation on the CCN-North America board of directors since 1984. AMOS Health and Hope in Nicaragua runs clinics, water filtration systems, and health education in rural communities.
LGBTQIA+ Welcome
LGBTQIA+ friends, families, and allies find a particular welcome at Pullen. The Jack McKinney LGBTQ and Straight Allies Support Group meets on the third Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 pm in the Chapel as a confidential sharing space. LGBTQIA+ Family and Friends Lunch gathers on second Sundays from 12:15 to 1:15 pm at La Terraza on Avent Ferry Road. The Triangle Interfaith Alliance, of which Pullen is a member, holds its annual meeting at the church. Pullen was one of the first congregations to join the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB), and the church's 1992 decision to welcome gay and lesbian Christians - and the denominational consequences that followed - is part of its foundational story.
Sermon Archive and Podcast
Sunday services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. The Pullen Podcast carries sermons on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The Sermon Archive holds recordings going back to 2009, searchable by author and by theme - Justice, Inter-faith, Earth, Faith, Racism, Hope, Queer Faith, Mental Health, and more. Bishop William J. Barber II, Imam Abdullah Antepli, Rabbi Lucy Dinner, the late Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr., and theologian Carter Heyward are among the guest preachers who have brought their voices to Pullen's pulpit.
Weddings, Funerals, and Grief Support
Pullen hosts weddings for members and non-members. All ceremonies in the Sanctuary require a meeting with the head pastor prior to finalizing the booking. Funerals are celebrated with the same care; livestreamed funeral services are archived. A grief group coordinated through the church offers support for those who have lost loved ones, and the church periodically holds a Service of Grief and Healing in the Sanctuary.
Governance and Staff
Pullen is governed by a flat structure of five councils - Congregational Care, Coordinating, Deacon, Education, and Missions and Outreach - whose decisions are vetted through a coordinating council, with church-wide decisions vested only in the congregation. The ministerial staff includes Pastor Nancy E. Petty, Associate Pastor Chalice Overy, Minister of Music Larry E. Schultz, Minister with Children and Their Families Tommy Cook, Minister with Youth and Their Families Issa Farhoud, Church Organist/Pianist Ju Kim, and Community Outreach Coordinator Philemon Abel. The Communications Director is Niyah Murphy, and David Anderson serves as Church Administrator. Church office hours run Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm.
Getting Involved and Giving
Visitors are invited to attend a Sunday Group, visit a worship service, listen to a sermon, sign up for the weekly eNews, and explore the Realm/Connect member portal. Volunteer needs are extensive and welcoming: nursery workers, audio/visual team members, Kids Ministry leaders, Handy Corps (Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am for building maintenance), Hosts welcoming visitors after worship, office volunteers, Security and Ushers (one Sunday every six weeks), Sanctuary and Resettlement volunteers, Pullen Meals Ministry cooks, and Pullen-Wiley tutoring partners.
Pullen accepts online offerings through Realm, Venmo, Square, and Zelle. Gifts can also be made by check at 1801 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27605, by electronic funds transfer, or through stock and IRA distributions. Special offerings support the Alliance of Baptists and international partnerships in Cuba, the Republic of Georgia, Nicaragua, and Coventry. Capital Campaigns, Endowment Funds, Memorial Gifts, Scholarship Funds, and Legacy Gifts through wills and trusts round out the giving options.