• No timeline has been set

• No changes are happening right now

Please commit to praying for this process and for our elders and the transition team as they carefully and prayerfully make decisions.

For some time, the leadership of The Axis Church has been prayerfully considering the future of our physical location.

Germantown has changed significantly in the years since The Axis Church was planted. Some of the people we once lived among and ministered to have been pushed farther out. At the same time, many new neighbors have moved in—some of whom are now faithful partners of The Axis Church, whom we deeply love and are grateful for. Wherever we gather in the future—if God leads us there—our commitment to shepherding our people remains the same.

A few years ago, leadership began more intentionally exploring whether God might be leading The Axis Church toward a future relocation. Madison was one of several areas we considered, alongside other possibilities. At that time, every option required purchasing a property and absorbing significant remodeling costs, and we did not sense peace moving forward.

We share this because it matters: the idea of Madison did not originate from opportunity or convenience. It was already part of a broader, prayerful discernment about where God might be leading The Axis Church next.

This conversation did not begin because Axis sought out Madison First Baptist, nor because Madison approached us directly.

The Nashville Baptist Association invited us into facilitated conversations with Madison First Baptist, a congregation with a long and faithful gospel presence in their community. Those conversations have been guided carefully and prayerfully from the beginning.

Madison First Baptist is not a struggling church in need of rescue. They are a faithful congregation asking a courageous question:

What might faithfulness look like in our next season?

That question deserves honor.

Shepherded Incorporation is the name we are using to describe a possible pathway, not a predetermined outcome.

It is not a merger.

It is not a partnership.

It is not a blending of two church identities.

Shepherded Incorporation means that Madison First Baptist’s people and ministries would come under the leadership, doctrine, and mission of The Axis Church—with clear structure and intentional pastoral care.

• Shepherded because people matter more than speed, and change must be approached with patience, humility, and care.
  
  

• Incorporation because clarity is also a kindness. Clear leadership and direction help avoid prolonged uncertainty.

At its heart, this is about receiving people—not acquiring assets, and discerning long-term gospel fruitfulness rather than short-term solutions.

Madison First Baptist voted yes, which initiates a process—not an immediate move. Over time, and only with continued clarity and peace, that process could include:

• Selling our current Germantown property
  
  

• Investing thoughtfully in the Madison campus
  
  

• Preparing that campus to become a long-term home for The Axis Church
  
  

• Eventually relocating our primary gathering location

This conversation does include wise stewardship of buildings and finances, and we want to be honest about that.

We have been prayerfully exploring future space for The Axis Church for some time and have not pursued other options because of the high cost of purchasing and remodeling a facility. This possible pathway may represent God’s provision of a building that could be prepared as a long-term home—allowing resources to be directed toward ministry rather than acquisition.

Even so, stewardship is a consideration, not the driver. We will move forward only where we sense Jesus Christ clearly leading.

As we move forward, we want to be clear about what is coming next and why. We share this to provide clarity—not urgency—and to help our church family stay oriented as discernment continues.

March 22 - we will hold a Q and A session after the second gathering at The Axis Church at 12:45-2pm. For the sake of time, please keep all questions pertaining only to Shepherded Incorporation. (We will happily answer any other questions, however this specific time is dedicated to the questions related to Shepherded Incorporation)

What has happened so far:

Sunday Afternoon, February 15

Axis Elders and Executive Director attended a Q and A to get to know the culture of our church. This was an important step for Madison First Baptist, as understanding who The Axis Church is—and how we are led.

Sunday Morning, March 1 — Madison First Baptist Congregational Vote. They voted yes to move forward with the Shepherded Incorporation.

Madison First Baptist operates under a congregational form of church governance. On the morning of March 1, their congregation voted on whether to move forward with the Shepherded Incorporation process. 

Sunday Evening, March 1 — Axis Partner Potluck

That same evening, at our Partner Potluck, The Axis leadership shared the outcome of Madison First Baptist’s vote and explain what that outcome means for The Axis Church.

Ongoing Communication

We are committed to communicating clearly, calmly, and transparently. Our aim is to move at the pace of wisdom, not urgency, trusting Jesus Christ to lead His Church faithfully

How does the Axis plan to be sensitive to and considerare of the culture (given many are spanish speaking) of MFB, seeing that we are a body of primarily white individuals. How do you plan to prepare AMPs of this change?

The fact that you're asking it is already a really good sign! We all need to think about these things. Much of the preparation in this regard will come in the details of how we plan our merged ministries and church services in the coming months. As Jeremy said recently, our differences fade when we're on mission together, walking shoulder-to-shoulder. In that context and given that MFB already has a strong Hispanic ministry (including bilingual services) the best practical way to prepare our people is to ask for them to get involved: learn and sing Spanish, invite people to their ACs, become friends, do ministry together, etc. Formal training isn't out of the question if we see a need for it, but it can very easily do the opposite of what's intended by magnifying our differences rather than minimizing them.

On a bigger scale, there are two types of racism we want to avoid. First, there's the explicit kind, and if that's an issue, we'd have to handle it on a case-by-case basis; it's sin and needs to be dealt with via church discipline. But there's also the implicit kind in which we walk in with a "white savior" complex, thinking we're moving in to rescue people. The only rescuer at our church will be Jesus, and that's the main answer to your question: we prepare our people of this change by preaching the gospel to them. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This is not a trite glossing over the fact that there will be points of friction; rather, it's the solution to those points of friction, that we are all sinners in need of a savior, that we are stronger because we are diverse, and that we live in a constant posture of deference and forgiveness toward one another. I imagine our sermons will hit on some of these points as the move approaches.

I understand Axis is elder ruled and not Congregationalist, therefore we don't vote. With that being said it leads to a few questions:

1. Who is on the governance board?

2. How has the elder and governance board come to the conclusion that this is best for Axis?. We as the congregation we have been give really no insight into y'all's thought process on why this is the best option for Axis.

3. There are only a few weeks left prior to the vote by the other church. Why has there not been opportunity for the congregation to come together and ask questions and hear the heart of the elders? It feels as though we are being ask to blindly pray and follow in this huge decision.

The governance team consists of Axis Ministry Partners who are gifted in business, industry, finance, commercial real estate, and who have experience in things like insurance, liability, legal matters, etc.  The current Governance Team includes David Dill, Barrett Wilson, Blake Neely, Amanda Palmer, and Daniel Ray.  While the elders -Jeremy Rose, Steve Robinson, and Dave Hoffman are not on the governance team, those of us who want to, can shadow the meetings, which mainly consist of the voice and minds of the governance team as they come to formal recommendations for the elders to consider.With respect to how leadership came to the conclusion that a shepherded incorporation with Madison First Baptist would be the best solution for The Axis… please remember that we are still in the nascent stages of all this, and we are attempting to be faithful to discern the Lord’s direction here.  It is not a “done deal” by any means.  There have been several attempts to communicate all the information there is so far, but it is quite possible that we have not been effective.  Also, it could be that we are in that precarious point in the time line where the things that have transpired are enough to elicit questions that can’t be fully answered until we get further down the line.  For an example, until the folks at Madison FB vote on March 1st, we don’t know if any of this is even going to be viable.  We’ve just wanted to keep everyone in the loop leading up to a potential starting point.  

At the risk of sending you into a loop of info you already have, here is a link that should fully explain how we’ve gotten to this point and where we are in the timeline:  https://www.theaxischurch.org/prayformadison

Regarding Madison FB’s Vote on March 1st, that simply tells us that they are willing to become Axis Ministry Partners and that they would agree to our shepherded incorporation proposal.  For our people, we have opened up channels (like the one you utilized on CCB) for everyone to ask questions and express concerns.  We treasure this.  It is vital to the process and you are right on time with your questions.  Please encourage everyone you know who has concerns to do this, or to reach out though the channels that will be open in the weeks to come.  The process of discerning the “if’s, what’s, how’s, when’s, and where’s” will really begin on March 1st during our Partner Potluck.

What would the Madison decision would mean for our denominational affiliation. Would we become Baptist? (Are we already and I missed that?)

The Axis is already an SBC church (https://churches.sbc.net/church/the-axis-church/), and we give regularly to their Cooperative Program. We will likely increase our involvement with the local and state conventions, but that being said, we have no intention of changing anything about our theological convictions or mission and have made that clear with Madison First Baptist. We do not foresee any major complications in that regard.

What about Acts 29?

We are currently still a part of Acts 29; that organization and the SBC are not mutually exclusive.

Is this a merger?

No. This is not a merger, partnership, or blending of church identities. Shepherded Incorporation refers to a possible pathway where Madison First Baptist’s people and ministries would come under the leadership, doctrine, and mission of The Axis Church—with clarity and intentional pastoral care.

Has anything been decided already?

No. Madison First Baptist will discern whether to move forward through a congregational vote. If they vote yes, that would begin a careful process of planning and prayer. If they vote no, we will honor that fully. No decisions have been finalized.

Why does Madison vote, but Axis does not at this stage?

Madison First Baptist is governed congregationally, meaning their congregation discerns God’s will through a vote. The Axis Church is elder-led, meaning our elders carry responsibility for spiritual oversight and discernment, supported by our Governance Team. These are simply different, faithful governance structures.

Will Axis change its doctrine, leadership, or mission?

No. Our doctrine, leadership structure, and mission remain unchanged. Jesus Christ remains the Head of the Church.

What should I be doing right now?

Praying.

Praying for Madison First Baptist as they discern together.

Praying for wisdom for our elders and Governance Team.

Praying for unity, patience, and trust as we seek the Lord’s leading.

What is the best way for me to ask a question?

We want to hear from you, and we want to do that in a way that is thoughtful and helpful for everyone. The best way to ask a question is to submit it through this form. This allows us to receive questions in one place, discern common themes, and respond clearly and pastorally in future communication.