I have to ask

[Izdaari Eristikon]

*My wife and I currently attend an evangelical/charismatic church that is trans-denominationally affiliated with both the UCC and the Disciples of Christ. It's a great blending of contemporary music, evangelical praise songs, charismatic preaching... we sing together, we pray together, we share common meals together... we vote together for lefties like Obama, we march in Pride events together... one big happy family.

This sounds a lot like my Assemblies of God church... with one major difference: we don't do any politics together, or talk politics at all from the pulpit. That's a good thing, as I'm sure we couldn't agree politically. The members I've discussed politics with are all over the map: Constitution, Democratic, Green, Independent, Libertarian (I'm a Libertarian if you hadn't noticed), Republican. The attempt would surely split us.

 

[RachieCat]

Greek Orthodox raised but I attend Saddlebrook Church in Lake Forest,California and we believe Jesus is God showing himself to us. I get more out of this worship.
We can have up to 15,000 people at worship.

 

[gtmyers]

The Cove Church. Go to my page I have the web-site listed there. We are a kinda like the Saddleback Church in California with a Chuck Swindoll style of teaching. We are very progressive in our music. No hymns here. Very contemporary with a high energy level that borders on pentecostal but not pentecostal teaching.

 

[p0LkFliedLice]

So we are all "moderate" here.

Where do ya all go to church? LOL!

I've been searching for a nest for a long long time. I can't seem to find anything out there that doesn't condemn someone for being different than what their particular denom preaches..... I mean I've been to some churches that out right SLAM another church from the pulpit. **cringe** No brotherly love there. It doesn't help that I live in a predominately *not gonna name names but it is very conservative church* area.

What, if any, denominations are considered moderate??? Or is is more dependant upon the pastor and the flock??? Maybe I am just too weird for church LOL... dunno Maybe it is a me issue and not a church issue? I am starting to lean that way.

I am a yakker, sorry.

Thanks for the input.

Sword of Joshua Independent Full Gospel Pentecostal Assembly, just off state road 23 ... on the frontage road

 

[Albion]

There's no church that is more "moderate" than the Anglican church, if by "moderate" one means mainstream or in the middle of the Christian spectrum.

But of course the word "moderate" on this forum refers to the manner and decorum shown by us Christians...and every denomination has them as well as folks who aren't so temperate.

 

[jamescarvin]

So we are all "moderate" here.

Where do ya all go to church? LOL!

I've been searching for a nest for a long long time. I can't seem to find anything out there that doesn't condemn someone for being different than what their particular denom preaches..... I mean I've been to some churches that out right SLAM another church from the pulpit. **cringe** No brotherly love there. It doesn't help that I live in a predominately *not gonna name names but it is very conservative church* area.

What, if any, denominations are considered moderate??? Or is is more dependant upon the pastor and the flock??? Maybe I am just too weird for church LOL... dunno Maybe it is a me issue and not a church issue? I am starting to lean that way.

I am a yakker, sorry.

Thanks for the input.

My church has very little tolerance as a whole. It is Orthodox Christian. But I am a bridge-builder. I go there not because of its tolerance but because of my mission from Christ that

1. Calls me to practice the faith that I believe. Doctrinally I am in agreement with them, though some of the more aggresively intolerant ones say I'm a heretic simply for being tolerant.
2. Calls me to serve rather than be served. My personal tolerance may eventually have a good effect on those within my small circle of influence.

I should define my use of this word "tolerant" lest those same people come over here and whack me good for saying this. I am speaking of doctrine.

Let me be very plain. I believe that people who are in error are not necessarily excluded from the body of Christ even if they have been anathematized.

There you have it. I am not talking about being morally lax. My church actually practices forgiveness. We call sin sin, but we are all in competition with eachother for claiming to be chief among sinners. There is very little room for judging others. What there is is guardianship of right doctrine taken to an extreme and coming out ugly.

This is something they could work on. But I'm not going to give up on them just because they aren't quite where I'm at in seeing this. There isn't anyplace else I can get the right doctrine. Because I recognize that too. And doctrine is very important to me.

Probably doesn't sound like a moderate talking saying that. But then, I said bridge-builder, not moderate.

Also let me add (by way of editing) that my local Orthodox Church and the college, where I teach some courses and serve as web master, is more ecumenical than most churches. As for the college they are very specific about wanting a good mixture of Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox doing the teaching so that everyone will feel they have a part. It is exceptional in its ecumenical-mindedness among Orthodox Churches.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

James,

I checked your school's website. It looks very cool, very interesting. I might consider taking some courses there. I'll PM you when/if I have questions.

 

[champuru]

So we are all "moderate" here.

Where do ya all go to church? LOL!

I've been searching for a nest for a long long time. I can't seem to find anything out there that doesn't condemn someone for being different than what their particular denom preaches..... I mean I've been to some churches that out right SLAM another church from the pulpit. **cringe** No brotherly love there. It doesn't help that I live in a predominately *not gonna name names but it is very conservative church* area.

What, if any, denominations are considered moderate??? Or is is more dependant upon the pastor and the flock??? Maybe I am just too weird for church LOL... dunno Maybe it is a me issue and not a church issue? I am starting to lean that way.

I am a yakker, sorry.

Thanks for the input.

Well I think many (including me) find out the hard way that there is no perfect church, much less denomination. Never the less, here are some suggestions: Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and as a wild card non-denominational (which varies extremely between ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal). Sometimes I want to start my own denomination though

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Sometimes I want to start my own denomination though

I'll take that thought and run with it a little ways if you don't mind.

The Izdaarian Church would be:

• Christ-centered
• Biblical, but not especially liberal or conservative
• Not political at all
• Theologically sound, but not argumentative about doctrine. That is, we might love discussing theology, but not with an argumentative attitude. And the bottom line is always orthopraxy (right practice), not just orthodoxy (right beliefs).
  
• Charismatic, but not into hype or hoopla about it. Charismata are given to serve God, and are not ends in themselves.
• Missional. Not that we support missions programs (though I'm sure we would), but that we are a missions program: Christ's mission in the world.
• Welcoming of all. Not necessarily that we have to approve of everyone's lifestyle choices, but that we love them as children of God regardless.
• At times very modern, at other times very traditional or even ancient. For example, we might feature sacred music by Bach on harpsichord, or Gregorian chants, and we might also do Christian punk, heavy metal or hip hop. We might have a formal "smells & bells" liturgy, or we might dance barefoot in the grass. Whatever is to the glory of God, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth!

 

[champuru]

I'll take that thought and run with it a little ways if you don't mind.

The Izdaarian Church would be:

• Christ-centered
• Biblical, but not especially liberal or conservative
• Not political at all
• Theologically sound, but not argumentative about doctrine. That is, we might love discussing theology, but not with an argumentative attitude. And the bottom line is always orthopraxy (right practice), not just orthodoxy (right beliefs).
  
• Charismatic, but not into hype or hoopla about it. Charismata are given to serve God, and are not ends in themselves.
• Missional. Not that we support missions programs (though I'm sure we would), but that we are a missions program: Christ's mission in the world.
• Welcoming of all. Not necessarily that we have to approve of everyone's lifestyle choices, but that we love them as children of God regardless.
• At times very modern, at other times very traditional or even ancient. For example, we might feature sacred music by Bach on harpsichord, or Gregorian chants, and we might also do Christian punk, heavy metal or hip hop. We might have a formal "smells & bells" liturgy, or we might dance barefoot in the grass. Whatever is to the glory of God, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth!

Heck your denomination sounds like how my denomination would be. I'd join your denomination