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.
A lot will depend on what you are looking for and what your priorities are in considering a new spiritual home. If you are convinced Calvinist, you are probably going to want to stick to some sort of Presbyterian church. If you are more concerned with basic conservative moral values then you might broaden your search. Most (though not all) of the Mainline Protestant denominations are experiencing varying degrees of spiritual/theological collapse. The LCMS is a prominent exception and one can find small splinter groups of self described Anglicans floating around that have resisted the liberal virus. These groups however tend to be more formal and structured in their worship, which coming from a Presbyterian background might require some adjustment.
If you prefer “low church” there is no shortage of Baptists churches. Being congregational in their ecclessiology your mileage will vary, in some cases dramatically there. The Methodists have also been going down hill. But one can still find conservative Methodists. In the Seattle area though, you will need to be careful.
Lastly, if you are look for The Church as opposed to a church, logically your choices are likely to be Rome or Orthodoxy. There are many parishes affiliated with both in your area. Due to the current situation in the Catholic Church there might be some fairly major differences in tone and (small ‘o’) orthodoxy between Catholic parishes. If you are thinking of swimming the Tiber, I would ask around for the most conservative parish in the area. If there is one that does things the way they were done before Vatican II, that would probably be best.
If you are thinking about the Orthodox Church, all I can say is brace yourself for a serious dose of culture shock. We haven’t made any major changes to our worship in around 1500 years or so. And doctrinally, it’s been almost as long. Our services are the definition of “High Church” and tend to be longer than those in the Western Christian tradition. While we don’t actively proselytize the welcome mat is always out and we do get a surprising number of converts from Protestant backgrounds. If you want more info feel free to FReep mail me.
Good luck.
In Seattle, St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral near REI.
The Divine Liturgy has not changed in nearly two thousand years, and will not change. The Orthodox Church provides a lifelong structure to contemplate oneself’s soul before the Eternal.
Definately contact the PCA (PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA)!
Doctrinally sound, evangelical, and capable of assisting your fellowship’s transition in several important areas of concern.
My wife and I raised our kids in the Covenant church we have attended for nearly 20 years. Like all denominations, individual congregations/pastors can vary. That said, as a whole the denomination is rock solid strong on a Biblical foundation. They do not have a rigid set of doctrines or dogma, but rely on “Where is it written, how is your walk?” as their guide. In other words, if you have a Biblical foundation for your belief(s) you will fit in nicely at a Covenant church and thrive. You will be encouraged to continually grow in your faith, in your walk, and in your witness. Be blessed!!
No. But iron sharpens iron.
If you join a church you have the opportunity to grow through the wisdom and insight of your brothers/sisters speaking into your life. You will also have the responsibility to help them to grow by doing the same.
We are better together!
“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.”
How very “Christian” of them.
To your question....I never heard of “Covenant Church”. I did a little Google research as I guess you have.
What jumped out at me was that they go to great lengths to AVOID telling you what they believe in.
No doctrine, no creed, just feel good platitudes that no one could disagree with. I just get a “cult” vibe about them.
Also I’m a little concerned that you are enamored with the “beauty” of the building and that they have a nice choir.
I don’t know you, but let me be blunt. It appears you attend church for all the wrong reasons.
The “Church” is the body of Christ, not any building. The building is just a place where fellow Christians gather. It can be a garage, someone’s home, a school gym, or anywhere you gather together to worship Jesus Christ our Lord.
A friend of ours is from the Ukraine, Soviet Union at the time. They could not openly worship or even legally possess a bible.
They would meet at prearranged times in the forest, under the stars, to worship Christ. They risked EVERYTHING by doing so. Prison, even death.
No building, no choir. BYOB. Bring your own bible.
When we had to choose a church (and denomination) for the first time, we determined that an INDEPENDENT Southern Baptist Convention member church was the best denomination because their beliefs were closest to what the bible teaches.
A bible believing church is imperative! The WHOLE bible. Every jot and tittle.
Matthew 5:18 New International Version (NIV)
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Our church rented a Seventh Day Adventist church. It was available for use on Sundays since the Seventh Day Adventists worship on Saturdays. We did this for years until we could afford to build our own church building. We did this debt free with the help and blessings of God, His church builders ministry, and the generosity of His saints (our members).
I say all this, to say that you have many options. You just need to change your criteria. The ONE thing you can’t compromise on is that the entire Word of God is preached there.
BTW, you might want to check into Overlake Christian Church located in Redmond/Kirkland vicinity. Good luck.
If you like liturgy, I recommend the Anglican Church. Most of them left the Episcopal Church USA over the same issues and have gone through similar pain already. Tested by fire.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Like Gamecock, I think you might find yourself very comfortable in the PCA. It was formed by churches which left the PCUSA. Google PCA and check out its doctrinal stand.
Man ruins everything he touches.
I would recommend an Islam mosque.
You won’t have to worry about your head being chopped off, and the Democrats will fight for your right to practice your religion while they bring the sate down on those Christian religions.
OK, /sarc
My Wife and I have turned toward an Evangelical Christian Church that has contempory services. (Upbeat Praise music with Drums,Guitars,Keyboards and Singers).
Bless you. Praise God.
You may well find yourself in that situation again, if you and your chosen church don’t hunger and thirst after righteousness based on real devotion to studying GOD’s WORD rather than modern values emanating from synods, counsel, panels, committees, and such like.
Thanks. The reason I ask the question is that many churches by their deeds directly violate some of God’s commands: i.e. Supporting Sodomy, the murder of babies.
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The Episcopal Church did the same to us - so we left, without taking even a paperclip. They could keep it all - we had the Gospel!
God provided a temporary place to worship (Sunday afternoon at 5 PM - not ideal) in another church, who gave us the key when they heard our story. In less than a year we were meeting in a storefront, then in 3 more years we had our own church again - bigger and better than the one we had left.
You have everything you need - just keep praying - and get started.
My sense is that any denomination that retains female elders is similarly doomed. It just doesn’t seem to work. And then it misguides.
May I recommend the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
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