Who We Are

GFCC Description

Greater Framingham Community Church is an interdenominational Christian church, founded in 1972. The church was organized to meet the needs of suburbanites who desired a Black religious experience. Currently the church is the largest predominantly African-American church in the Metrowest area with a congregation that draws from African, Carribean, and European cultures. The church offers a full array of worship, fellowship, educational, and Bible study opportunities

Programs and Opportunities include:

• Martin Luther King Day observance
• Youth Fellowship
• Cultural Programs
• Educational Programs
• Community Outreach
• Tutorial Programs for Youth
• Outreach to substance abusers and prisoners
• Assistance to the needy and homeless
• Scholarships

GFCC Vision and Mission

Vision

To become true and faithful servants of GOD, to faithfully spread the Gospel to ALL Humankind throughout the Community, Nation and the World.

Mission

To build and develop Christian maturity in a spiritually enriching environment.
To present mature Christians in Christ in the world worthy of our call a Christians.

History of GFCC

Greater Framingham Community Church is an interdenominational Christian church that was founded in 1972. It was organized to meet the needs of suburbanites who desired an African American religious experience. Considering itself as an extended Christian family, the church functions in many ways as the only immediate family, outside the primary group, for its largely transplanted membership. Today the church is the largest predominantly Black church in the Metrowest area with a congregation that draws from African, Carribean, and European cultures.

This interdenominational church is governed by a twelve member Church Council which is the policy making and executive body of the congregation. The Reverend Dr. Cameron Byrd, a United Church of Christ minister, was called in 1973 to serve as its first pastor and provided spiritual oversight for the early development of the church until called to Washington, DC in 1978. He was succeeded in 1979 by the late Reverend Harold G. Ross, Jr, a Baptist minister, who served until the Spring of 1990. While a nationwide search was conducted for a successor, the Reverend Percy Garrett, Jr. assisted the church. In April 1992, the Reverend Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd, a Baptist minister and Associate Dean of Students at Gordon College, was called to serve as the third pastor. Simultaneously, the church relocated from a leased church building at Edgell Road and Water Street in Framingham, where it held worship services for twenty years, to a building purchased from the Assembly of God Church , located at Hartford and "C" Streets on the southside of Framingham.

Under Dr. Lloyd’s leadership, the church has experienced phenomenal growth with a current membership of approximately 500 families/households, with over 200 children and youth.

Membership Development

• Providing a worship experience that glorifies GOD.
• Nurturing ALL in understanding of who we are in Christ.
• Committing ourselves to the study of the Bible, therefore, equipping us for the
• work of ministry in our home, church, community, and the world.
• Working toward peace in the world, with a common purpose and unity in our church.
  
• Praying, celebrating the sacraments, stewardship, praising the Lord, confessing our sins, teaching and preaching the Gospel unto SALVATION FOR ALL.

What We Believe

Our Basic Beliefs

Faith and Covenant

Faith

This Church acknowledges as its head, God, the Creator of all heaven and earth and Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. It acknowledges as brothers and sisters in Christ all who share in this confession. It believes that all of those who are committed to the building of God's Kingdom and strive to keep His commandments are entitled to partake of the Lord's Supper, and that all such with their family are entitled to the Ordinance of Baptism.

Appostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. The third day he arose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the God, the Father Almighty: from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church [universal], the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Amen

Covenant

Pastoral Staff

Our Pastor, Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd

Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd serves as the pastor of the Greater Framingham Community Church, ministering to a congregation drawn from the Metro West area of Massachusetts. This holistic ministry seeks to bring the gospel of Christ to individuals to impact their communities for Christ. It is a ministry of empowerment and celebration. J. Anthony Lloyd was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 22, 1955, to the late James Lloyd and Mrs. Ruth E. Lloyd. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord at an early age. While very young, he became affiliated with the Germantown Avenue Corps of Salvation Army. That is where J. Anthony's seed for service and ministry was planted and cultivated. While still very young, he became a leader in youth ministries, Sunday School, and Junior Church. He later ministered in street evangelism, children camp, and social work.

While a Senior at Central High in Philadelphia, J. Anthony Lloyd was led by God to commit himself to the Gospel ministry. In this act he would be following in the tradition of his grandfather, the late Reverend Dr. Maryland Taft Fleming, a reknowned Baptist preacher from Richmond, Virginia.

J. Anthony Lloyd graduated from Houghton College in Houghton, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in ministry. In 1982, he received a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary of Hamilton, Massachusetts. At Gordon-Conwell, he was a recipient of the Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship for ministry, and Dr. Martin Luther King Award for outstanding leadership. In 1996 he received his Doctor of Ministry degree in the area of Preaching for Social Change from United Theological Seminary, Dayton , Ohio.

Dr. Lloyd served as the Assistant and Associate Dean of Students at Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts for twenty years.

Rev. Dr. Lloyd continues to serves as adjunct faculty member at the Center for Urban Ministerial Education, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston, MA.

For the seven years prior to coming to GFCC, he served with distinction on the ministerial staff of Twelfth Baptist Church of Boston. He coordinated the Counseling Team, and served in preaching and teaching ministries.

On Palm Sunday, April 12, 1992, Rev. J. Anthony Lloyd commenced a new Kingdom assignment as pastor of the Greater Framingham Community Church, Framingham, Massachusetts.

On Sunday, May 24, 1992, he was endorsed by the United Baptist Convention of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire and ordained by the historic Twelfth Baptist Church of Boston under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Michael E. Haynes..

J. Anthony has traveled and ministered in the Virgin Islands, Mexico, England, Israel, Canada, Europe, East, West, and South Africa, in addition to the Caribbean.

Ministerial Team

Rev H. Benjamin Abrahams Sister Beverly Thompson Rev. Courtney Lackard Sister Elizabeth Clinkscales

Minister Dr. Emmett Price Rev. Richard Keyes Rev. Faith C. Tolson-Pierce

Our Deacons

The Deacon Board

Ministries

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, To the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20

Ministries and Programs

Education Ministries

Support Ministries

Outreach Ministries

Fellowship Ministries

Music Ministries

Church Community Extension

Church Community Partnerships

Sunday Worship Services

Sunday School (children and adult) 8:45 AM

Praise and Testimony 9:40 AM

Worship Celebration 10:00 AM

Junior Church 10:00 AM

Early Childhood 10:00 AM

Bible Studies

Wednesday 12:30 PM

Wednesday Evening 7:30 PM

Saturdays 2nd and 4th (Men's Bible Study) 8:00 AM

Saturdays 1st and 3rd (Women's Bible Study) 8:00 AM

Sundays 2nd (Teen Bible Study & Fellowship) 1:00 PM

Fridays (Junior Bible Study & Fellowship) 6:30 PM

Prayer Meetings

Intercessary Prayer Tuesday 7:00 PM

Mid-week afternoon prayer Wednesday 12:00 Noon

Mid-week evening prayer Wednesday 7:00 PM

Intercessary Prayer Friday 12:00 Noon

Monthly Extended Prayer 2nd Friday 7:00 PM