Posted on 07/28/2016 11:37:02 AM PDT by Vinylly
We are looking for a new church. We have been attending the First Presbyterian Church in Seattle. The congregation voted to leave Presbyterian Churches USA, so now we are just an independent Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery took us to court to take over our church property, which we lost. They also confiscated all our assets and bank accounts. They are trying to 'starve us out and destroy us, as we will be unable to pay our bills, and pay wages to church staff and ministers. We have no funds to rent a new worship space. The wife and I have decided the situation is hopeless so we are looking at a nearby church. We are looking at the First Covenant Church. We don't know much about it accept the founding fathers immigrated from Sweden. The church is quite beautiful and is one of the few churches that have a choir. But, how are they in following the scripture and not another politically correct church like the Presbyterian Churches USA ? However, we will continue with our old church body until it has been completely dissolved.
Check out a Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod (LCMS) church if you have one.
I left the PCUSA long ago and find myself quite at home there. As with all denominations you can't trust what the sign on the door says and may need to check out a couple to find one you are comfortable with.
Even though we used to go to church in Federal Way, I have no experience with the Presbyterian church.
Since you’re in Seattle, I hear good things about this church which is the old Mars Hill Church after Mark Driscoll left.
http://crossandcrownseattle.com/
Not a bad idea either, but you may have issues with the communion.
I have worshiped at quite a few LCMS churches and for the most part they are solid.
Please visit the OPC web site www.opc.org
I hope you haven’t ruled out the Catholic Church without looking at what differences you have.
If you are interested in the catholic church...
Find a Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church.
Don’t try to go to a “Pope Socialist” Rome controlled church.
Where did Rush’s friend Hutch preach up there?
We attended a covenant church for around 10 years. Love the history and agree with most of the doctrine. The problem is that the national denomination is embracing the Rob Bell type of false teachings. The pastor at our church showed that he was Covenant first and Christian second. Several families left in frustration, including an elder.
This particular church was far more conservative than the national denomination, but as the older generation is no longer active in church business it seemed to be sliding gently to the liberal view.
I have no perfect denomination to recommend as we ran to a fundamental baptist church to counter the mush in our previous church and there are some problematic beliefs there as well.
But-if we ever find a perfect church I’ll be sure not to join; I’d just ruin it ;-).
Hey Blue Duncan, I think this issue is something that is right down your alley and something that you might want to take a look at.
Too bad you don’t leave near Gig Harbor. There’s a Presbyterian church there that left the PCUSA and is doing quite well.
There’s also an excellent church in Federal Way called Saint Luke’s. It’s LCMS and it’s a good family church.
I am so sorry that your congregation is the victim of liberal “tolerance.” I know people who went through similar circumstances in the Episcopal Church.
I guess one starting point is asking how central Calvinist doctrine is to you. If that is important to you, then others have mentioned some conservative Reformed churches. The LCMS is quite conservative but their stand on Calvinism and communion might or might not be a problem.
Another thing to at least look at are some of the “Anglican” churches that broke away from the Episcopal Church. These churches tend to be either kind of Reformed or else some degree of Anglo-Catholic. There might be an Anglican church in your area that has more of a Reformed flavor than Catholic.
Now, the mind controllers have made it about "property," and many individuals are reluctant to separate themselves from an institutional denomination gradually taken over by politically-correct ideologues who are using church property demands as roadblocks to the church members' exercise of freedom of conscience.
God's Spirit will lead you to a fellowship of believers where you can support and be supported in living out his call upon your life.
Mormons are the one denomination which I've found to be the most consistent between congregations, but there are even differences there. I also like their business model. They don't pass a collection plate or pay their ministry. Rank and file congregants take turns speaking. So you get some really interest sermons as well as some snoozers, usually a variety.
Baptists are all over the place and it makes them a lot of fun. Go into one and you'd think you were back in the days of the apostles. Go into another, and it is just another politically correct church like the ELCA.
The best thing I can say about the ELCA where I spent a lot of time when I was younger is that, while their doctrines have grown more perverse over time, they still serve the best hot dish and sandwiches. I still go there for blood drives as a result.
Similar situation with my brother & family in Georgia with the Presbyterian/USA. The church was simply becoming a country club. The last straw, if you can believe it, was “Casino Night”! They went Baptist, who seem to have held on to the core beliefs quite well.
Question: Is it necessary for a Christian to attend church?
My favorite is the Free Presbyterian, but the closest one to you is across the border - Vancouver and Victoria. I have never attended one (there are none located in California), but I like their 'About Us' statement on their website, and I probably listen to around ten of their sermons (mostly from their Northern Ireland churches) a week. Very consistently good messages.
We joined the nearby OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) a few years ago. Never looked back.
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