What denominations are represented on Whoesoever Will, May Come?

[Raphael Jauregui]

I know that this forum is for all of us from a host of liberal denominations or non-denominational congregations. What are some of your guys' that you represent here?

 

[HereIStand]

That is one long prayer list.

 

[FireDragon76]

I grew up Methodist, became a "none", practiced Buddhism for several years. Then I attended an Anglican, and later, an Orthodox church. Now I am a member of the ELCA.

 

[SnowyMacie]

I grew up Churches of Christ, in fact while attending a Churches of Christ-affiliated is when I became more theologically progressive and politically liberal. I have sense converted to Anglicanism, more specifically The Episcopal Church.

 

[Apex]

My church affiliation journey:

0-17 years old: Roman Catholic (infant baptized and confirmed)
18-20 years old: Ambivalent (no church)
21-24 years old: Calvary Chapel (believer baptized)
-------->Graduated with Biblical Studies degree from conservative university
25-28 years old: Evangelical Free Church of America (paid teaching staff)
-------->Accepted to conservative seminary
29-31 years old: Various conservative churches
32-Current age: No formal church community

I'm thinking about attending a local liberal Baptist church next week (they do things differently). However, once I became a centrist, no church was a perfect fit. Several communities have made my family felt unwelcome because of our beliefs. I currently have a diverse group of friends (atheists, conservatives, moderates, agnostics). They all think I'm the "liberal Christian".

I'm starting to think that the way we "do" church is very wrong. Almost everywhere I look its the same old thing. Sugary donuts and cheap coffee, captive theater seating, trendy rock worship, flash meet and greet, Powerpoint advertising, guilt offering, verbose prayer, boring lecture-based sermon, verbose prayer, rinse and repeat. It's all one big production.

 

[xpower]

My church affiliation journey:

0-17 years old: Roman Catholic (infant baptized and confirmed)
18-20 years old: Ambivalent (no church)
21-24 years old: Calvary Chapel (believer baptized)
-------->Graduated with Biblical Studies degree from conservative university
25-28 years old: Evangelical Free Church of America (paid teaching staff)
-------->Accepted to conservative seminary
29-31 years old: Various conservative churches
32-Current age: No formal church community

I'm thinking about attending a local liberal Baptist church next week (they do things differently). However, once I became a centrist, no church was a perfect fit. Several communities have made my family felt unwelcome because of our beliefs. I currently have a diverse group of friends (atheists, conservatives, moderates, agnostics). They all think I'm the "liberal Christian".

I'm starting to think that the way we "do" church is very wrong. Almost everywhere I look its the same old thing. Sugary donuts and cheap coffee, captive theater seating, trendy rock worship, flash meet and greet, Powerpoint advertising, guilt offering, verbose prayer, boring lecture-based sermon, verbose prayer, rinse and repeat. It's all one big production.

Is that a thing that happens in Baptist churches? Also why are men wearing suits such a big deal in Baptist churches?

 

[wheatpenny]

I was raised Southern Baptist and wandered thru a few other religions before returning to Christianity. I'm non-denominational with beliefs similar to moderate Baptists.

 

[gerbilwoman]

I'm unsure what I am denomination wise.

 

[hedrick]

I'm starting to think that the way we "do" church is very wrong. Almost everywhere I look its the same old thing. Sugary donuts and cheap coffee, captive theater seating, trendy rock worship, flash meet and greet, Powerpoint advertising, guilt offering, verbose prayer, boring lecture-based sermon, verbose prayer, rinse and repeat. It's all one big production.

Have you tried a more traditional worship service? most liberal denominations tend to be traditional in worship (or at least have traditional services even if they're experimenting with others).

The donuts are an attempt at hospitality on the run. It would be great to follow a worship service with a sit-down family meal. But at least in our church, people aren't willing to stay for that. Serving snacks in mingling is pretty much universal in churches and industrial setting. I admit that I'd prefer something more imaginative than donuts, but choice of food is hardly critical to after-worship fellowship.

 

[hedrick]

I'm unsure what I am denomination wise.

You're posting in the liberal group. The traditional liberal denominations are the mainline, some of the more liberal non-denominational or evangelicals, and (except for the official party line on gender / sexual issues) even the Catholics. They all have similar Biblical scholarship, and there's a large part of theology that's shared. So I'm not sure what denomination you are is so critical.

 

[Aino]

I belong to the evangelical-lutheran church of Finland, always have. It should be quite similar to the ELCA I suppose?

 

[Targaryen]

Anglican Church of Canada as my avatar shield represents

 

[Anto9us]

United Methodist -- what I was raised and have been MOST of my life, though I have had brief periods as Baptist, Episcopalian, and Unity.

 

[Starcomet]

I have been on the forum for a long time, but am just recently returning. I am a part of the Unitarian Christian denomination, but not the UUA.

 

[Abella30]

I was raised United Methodist and have gone to Episcopal, Unity and Lutheran churches. Last year I found a Cooperative Baptist church close to my home that has a diverse congregation of liberal to conservative members. My bible study group has 12 members, 6 of us are pretty liberal theologically, two are moderate and the rest are conservative. We are a pretty good representation of the diversity within the church body. The service is traditional and the population runs a little older. I joined last year and really enjoy it.

 

[justhere1]

Independent Fundamental King James Only Baptist, but I'm not as much into it right now as I used to be.

 

[GoodLightSJ]

I consider myself a moderate, yet I keep finding myself attracted to theologically liberal interpretations of Christianity. I think that most theological conservatives would recognize me as being liberal more-so than moderate, if I were to discuss my core theological beliefs.

I attended a conservative denomination in my younger days, was not affiliated with a church for many years, was more-or-less 'recruited' by a very conservative church, and ended up with the UMC after doing a thorough investigation of various denominations and engaging in a lot of prayer and meditation (found myself drawn to the UMC and the Quakers/Society of Friends, and gave visiting a non-denominational service some thought).