Two churches in Vienna have found a way to live together in harmony, while still staying true to their distinct religious identities.
The Vienna Baptist Church has now fully moved into the Emmaus United Church of Christ building at 900 Maple Avenue East after finalizing a sale of its longtime home at 541 Marshall Road SW.
Consummating a partnership established with a covenant on Oct. 26, the relocation was completed this month — just in time for the churches to collaborate on celebrations of the upcoming holidays, though they will typically operate as separate congregations.
Joint holiday worship services, including a music service on Dec. 21 and an interactive children’s service on Christmas Eve, are planned, according to Vienna Baptist Church Lead Pastor Austin Almaguer.
“We spent a year listening to the congregation and community and concluded we could either spend the next 10 to 20 years devoting more and more money to maintaining our facility or spending that time and money making a difference in our community,” Almaguer said in a statement to FFXnow. “We are looking forward to using our renewed energy and resources to deepen and expand our longstanding partnerships with local schools and nonprofits to help our neighbors in need.”
Originally constructed in 1957, per Fairfax County property records, the two-story church on Marshall Road had housed the Vienna Baptist Church ever since.
However, church leaders recognized that the building might no longer be the most appropriate venue. In addition to carrying the growing maintenance demands inevitable for any aging property, the 500-person sanctuary now seemed cavernous for a regular congregation of about 75 people, Almaguer told Baptist News.
The congregation ultimately voted in October to sell the property and sign an agreement with Emmaus United allowing the two churches to share space and other resources.
The Marshall Road church was sold for $7.3 million to the Chinese Christian Church of Virginia on Dec. 9, property records show. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America, the Chinese Christian Church was started in 1978 by Rev. John Chiou and has long operated at 6071 Leesburg Pike in Lake Barcroft, though it has a second location in Springfield.
It’s unclear if the Chinese Christian Church is moving or establishing a new outpost in Vienna. FFXnow has reached out to the church for comment.
“We wish them all the best as they begin this new chapter and continue a rich legacy of ministry on Marshall Road,” Almaguer said of the property’s new owner.
In a press release on their partnership, Vienna Baptist and Emmaus leaders noted that they’re not merging and will maintain separate worship services, ministries and leadership structures.
Serving Vienna since 1966, Emmaus will hold its Sunday worship services in its main sanctuary at 900 Maple Avenue East at 10 a.m., with Vienna Baptist services following at 11:30 a.m.
Both churches share an inclusive, progressive approach to faith. Vienna Baptist’s community partners include the nonprofit Britepaths and Marshall Road Elementary School, whose students often receive weekend meal kits prepared by the church’s members, while Emmaus hosts a Little Free Pantry and works with organizations like the Lamb Center and Committee for Helping Others.
Both churches are members of VOICE, a coalition of faith organizations that advocates for affordable housing, the availability of behavioral health care and other issues.
“In the Bible, a covenant is a relationship between two partners who make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal,” Rev. Dr. Kristen McBrayer, senior minister at Emmaus, said. “Emmaus and Vienna Baptist are choosing to enter into a formal relationship of mutual commitment, mutual trust, and mutual support so that together we can reach our common goal of thriving futures for both churches.”
