And God told His children: "I love you. Play nice."
Progressive Denominations
Written by LCNdiva
Monday, 12 December 2005
Are you searching for a new church home? Have you tried the belief-o-matic quiz yet?
My suggestion is that you prepare a litmus test of what you want in a church that you can ask prospective pastors about. Some topics that might come up:
Style of church service: Do you want the mystic rituals of Catholicism, the quiet simplicity of Quaker meetings, or the exuberance of an evangelical/pentecostal service? (See Liberalis for the hallmarks of each type of service.)
Size of congregation: Some people love the awesome adventure of meeting with thousands of other seekers in mega-churches, others prefer the cozy intimacy of a tiny church.
Theology: stands on Biblical literalism, infallibility, and inerrancy; salvation (faith, grace, or works; is it for this lifetime or the next; who is saved and how?); evangelism; tolerance, inclusion and plurality; compassionate ministry; war; the death penalty; women's choice.
These are all topics you may want to know beforehand how the church stands on these subjects. Once you have narrowed down possible denominations attend a few services at various churches. Just because it works for you on paper doesn't mean it works in reality. I find that after the general theological points, it is the pastor who makes or breaks the church for me. If I like the pastor and his or her leadership style, odds are I will like the church as a whole.