Diverse, Open-Minded Church in NY?

[bunni]

Hi, I've been looking for a church in the NYC area that has an open, friendly community that's preferably diverse. I'm actually Pentecostal and I've been wanting to take my fiance to a friendly church just to have the experience since he has never gone to a church before. If we like it, we may join. The hard part is that my fiance is Buddhist and is more interested in learning and observing than converting. I would like to go somewhere that would respect that without trying to aggressively convert him, but rather allow him to convert only if he wants to on his own accord and respect if he chooses to stay Buddhist without passing judgment on his cultural beliefs.

Is there any church that anyone here recommends?

 

[Wedjat]

NY is a big place, so I wouldn't go trying to point out a specific church, but I would suggest trying to find a Unitarian Universalist church. My dad (wouldn't call him agnostic, but I don't think he even knows what he is) pulled me along to a new UU church in our community (under the advice of my scout master, who was concerned about my pagan belief structure at the time). It turned out to be the most loving, open, and diverse place I've been, nothing like the stuffy church I used to go to with my grandparents. It probably wasn't what my scoutmaster had in mind, but it was really the perfect place for me. They accept people from all different religions (our congregation had christians, pagans, hindu's...) and their message is more about doing good deeds and acceptance of others. Even my mother, who had bad expiriences with the church when she was younger, although still identifies as a catholic, enjoy's going.
I'm an atheist now, and I'm still an active member of that church (or I would be if I wasn't overseas, but I'll get back to it) It's just a fantastic kind of community that the UU's present, and it seems like you and your fiance would be a perfect fit.

 

[ValleyRose]

How about Times Square church at 52nd and 8th. I used to go there for 10 years.
Very diverse, they have 10am 3pm and 6pm service all awesome awesome. Try it.

I moved to long island and with 3 kids it was too much getting everyone together and the drive.

HTH

 

[bunni]

Hi, sorry I haven't been back on in a while. I'm glad to see responses. Thanks for the advice! I appreciate it. I will try and research this now.

 

[paul1149]

This is an old thread, but there will always be someone looking for a church in NYC, so I would ratify ValleyRose's recommendation of TSC, and also add Brooklyn Tabernacle across the East River. Went to both for a season years ago, and the Lord met me mightily there.