You're Alternate place of Worship

[MamaZ]

I don't have a denomination myself.. Where Christ leads I will follow. For I am called to be a servant and where He needs me to serve we will go.

 

[Montalban]

If you moved to a new area and your Church Denomination or Non Denomination wasn't represented and no where in reasonable driving distance, but almost all other Christian Faiths were in the area, which one would you go to?
List your top three choices

mine are

Catholic Church
Orthodox Church(right there neck and neck with the Catholics like Affirmed and Alydar in the Belmont)
Anglican/Episcopalian Church.

I looked at this a different way and decided that if ever I were to move my choices would be limited to some place within driving distance of an Orthodox Church.

For me there's no alternative to that.

 

[Assisi]

Fellowship with other christians however is a whole different thing. And I would be glad to fellowship with any believer in christ, the question is, at what level.

It's my belief that Mass is about worshipping God as a community, it is 'us and God' rather than 'me and God' as it is at other times. Fellowship is something different. So while I can see that your answer is a good one in the context of your beliefs, it doesn't really mesh with mine. I am also glad to fellowship with any believer, thank God He didn't create us to be alone!

As for the OP, it's hard to imagine not being able to get to a Catholic Church. However, in the spirit of the question, if I were to become a protestant I would probably make my first stop in a Pentecostal church. They have awesome enthusiasm and love for God. I know of some great non denom churches I'd be interested in too.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

It's a pretty good question, one that makes you think.

My church membership is Assemblies of God, but I have very little loyalty to the denomination (I'll explain below), only to my particular congregation, which in practice seems to operate more like a Calvary Chapel (hence the CC icon).

I want a church that's solidly grounded in the very basics of the faith, the historic "five fundamentals" and Apostles/Nicene Creed-type stuff, but not legalistic and not too culturally conservative. I'm continuationist, so I prefer charismatic or charismatic-friendly, but in an orderly way. I prefer full equality for women in ministry. I'm pro-"emerging church" but on the conservative side of it. And I don't want to hear any politics, of any flavor, from the pulpit -- God is not a Democrat or Republican (though He may be a Libertarian ). I'm a casual person, and I don't like to dress up much. I don't like preachers who yell (very occasionally for emphasis is ok, but not as a normal mode of delivery). Instead, I prefer conversational teaching that has solid substance to it. I like my church to be a friendly, welcoming community with a missional attitude. I prefer either a liturgical service or a very contemporary one; traditional Protestant services don't do that much for me.

Meet the above, and most any reasonably orthodox denomination could work for me. My particular AG congregation does, which is why I joined, though I'm not optimistic that other AG churches necessarily would.

So...

In a new town, I'd check out AG in hopes of getting lucky and finding another one like mine. I'd check out the very similar Foursquare, and also Calvary Chapel. And Baptist (but not IFB - way too fundie for me), Anglican or Episcopal, Lutheran (but not WELS - much too conservative), Methodist, Presbyterian, Evangelical Covenant and non-denominational are all possibilities. In a pinch I'd be ok with going to a Catholic or Orthodox church.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

If I am going to move, my first priority is to find the body of believers where I can be a servant there.

 

[Emmy]

Dear boswd. My preference is for Methodist/Salvation-Army. But if none like these is near at hand, I would join any God-loving and following Jesus Church. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Bro_Sam]

If you moved to a new area and your Church Denomination or Non Denomination wasn't represented and no where in reasonable driving distance, but almost all other Christian Faiths were in the area, which one would you go to?
List your top three choices

mine are

Catholic Church

Wesley must be rolling over in his grave to hear a Methodist say that.

 

[Albion]

I looked at this a different way and decided that if ever I were to move my choices would be limited to some place within driving distance of an Orthodox Church.

The question is hypothetical and precludes there being any Orthodox Church within driving distance. What then?

 

[Bro_Sam]

double post

 

[Bro_Sam]

If you moved to a new area and your Church Denomination or Non Denomination wasn't represented and no where in reasonable driving distance, but almost all other Christian Faiths were in the area, which one would you go to?
List your top three choices

I would look for a church that preaches and teaches the word of God faithfully, practices church discipline, and expects more from me than to just show up, over a specific denomination.

Of course, if there was no Baptist church, I'd probably plant one.

 

[Albion]

I would look for a church that preaches and teaches the word of God faithfully, practices church discipline, and expects more from me than to just show up, over a specific denomination.

Of course, if there was no Baptist church, I'd probably plant one.

If planting a new church were not possible, and if you had to start looking at other, altready-existing churches, which are the three, by denomination, that you'd have to most hope for?

 

[cobweb]

The question is hypothetical and precludes there being any Orthodox Church within driving distance. What then?

In those situations we are instructed to stay home an have a reader's typika.

 

[MrPolo]

Calvary Chapel (hence the CC icon).

Just be careful telling people you are member of the "CC." The reactions you get might be priceless. I guarantee it.

 

[Albion]

In those situations we are instructed to stay home an have a reader's typika.

Seems like someone else answered in the same way, i.e. no other choice of church would be made. That seems a fair answer to the question, I agree. But this thread is a little game or mind exercise for us to play, not a real interrogation into one's loyalty to his particular church or its regulations. So what would you say if it were reworded a bit to ask this: Which three unacceptable non-Orthodox churches do you think come the closest to your religious preferences or requirement, all consideration of you worshipping there or joining them having been removed from the discussion?

 

[cobweb]

Seems like someone else answered in the same way, i.e. no other choice of church would be made. That seems a fair answer to the question, I agree. But this thread is a little game or mind exercise for us to play, not a real interrogation into one's loyalty to his particular church or its regulations. So what would you say if it were reworded a bit to ask this: Which three unacceptable non-Orthodox churches do you think come the closest to your religious preferences or requirement, all consideration of you worshipping there or joining them having been removed from the discussion?

Closest in praxis and theology would be:

Eastern-rite Catholic
Oriental Orthodox
Latin-rite Catholic

 

[Bro_Sam]

If planting a new church were not possible, and if you had to start looking at other, altready-existing churches, which are the three, by denomination, that you'd have to most hope for?

I would look for a church that preaches and teaches the word of God faithfully, practices church discipline, and expects more from me than to just show up, over a specific denomination.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Closest in praxis and theology would be:

Eastern-rite Catholic
Oriental Orthodox
Latin-rite Catholic

I would go with a traditional Anglican parish first, then Oriental Orthodox, then the Eastern Rite Catholic.

Mary

 

[Albion]

I would look for a church that preaches and teaches the word of God faithfully, practices church discipline, and expects more from me than to just show up, over a specific denomination.

...beginning with Advent Christian in the church listings and working down to Zion Whatever.

I think a lot of people have done the exact same thing. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Albion]

Closest in praxis and theology would be:

Eastern-rite Catholic
Oriental Orthodox
Latin-rite Catholic

Sounds entirely reasonable. And intriguing, if this is in order of preference.

 

[boswd]

Wesley must be rolling over in his grave to hear a Methodist say that.

You mean the same guy who said "We may not think like one another but can't we love and love in God like one another"?