I need to find my way back to organized religion

[cally]

I grew up in a church family. We went to church every Sunday, we went to church camp, all of my families social activities were with church families. I also was part of a very progressive renaissance in the church. My experience was one of social change and liberalism but steadied by church teachings. I look back out our pastors and most left the church and went on to other progressive movements. Still, my core was the church.


I've searched for that in my adult life. I've joined and been a part of various faith communities. None match the faith community of my youth. None are as accepting or loving as that one. I got pretty involved in several churches but I admit I left over politics. I cannot fight over homosexual rights and abortion. If that's your definition of faith then I don't want to be a part of it. I can debate how we live in a entitled world with too many resources, but I refuse to focus on a narrow agenda.

I left my last church when the pastor argued that we had to send missionaries in the first sermon after 9/11. I got a call about a year later asking why I haven't fulfilled my pledge. OK..They kicked me off the rolls. I havent' lost my faith but I've lost my faith in church.

[StoryTeller]

1. Sending you a hug...

:hug:

I'm sorry that the church has let you down, Cally. I understand. I hope and pray that you find a congregation where you belong and where people love you. Someplace where you can sense God's spirit and can be encouraged. A group of people who love Jesus more than their own political and ideological agendas. Such places and people DO exist. Don't ever doubt that. I will pray that you find one soon.

In the mean time, please know that you are a valued part of a larger church family. We consider you a sister, and we love you. And so does God. He hasn't forgotten you--He sees you and has wonderful things in store for you.

Here's another hug--'cause you can never have too many. :)

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Critters2]

2. There are denominations closer to your beliefs

Look into them. There really are progressive alternatives. My congregation welcomes glbt people, and, while we rarely discuss abortion, I know that most of my parishioners are pro-choice. And my congregation is typical of my denomination.

Don't give up! Keep looking!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. You may want to venture out of your usual denominational

comfort zone.

I became an Episcopalian after the Lutherans (even the ELCA) seemed both bureaucratic and overly suburban and family-oriented for a single urban dweller like me. My family had always been Lutheran on all sides, so it was a long time before I could bring myself to be officially received into the Episcopal Church.

If your denomination of origin no longer meets your needs, first read up on other denominations that you've heard of, and if there's one you like, start visiting the churches in your area. If the denomination has a regional office (diocese, synod, district,etc.) in your area, call, tell them what you're looking for, and ask for suggestions.

One day, one of those churches will just feel right. You will walk in, sit down, and think, "I'm home."

[Dob Bole]

4. Step 1: Take this test:

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

[Critters2]

5. I took it, and I think it's about right....

1. Orthodox Quaker (100%)
2. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (92%)
3. Liberal Quakers (90%)
4. Unitarian Universalism (82%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (73%)
6. Seventh Day Adventist (72%)
7. Mahayana Buddhism (70%)
8. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (69%)
9. New Age (65%)
10. Neo-Pagan (64%)
11. Taoism (60%)
12. Secular Humanism (59%)
13. Bah�'� Faith (58%)
14. Hinduism (58%)
15. Eastern Orthodox (56%)
16. Roman Catholic (56%)
17. Reform Judaism (54%)
18. Jainism (53%)
19. Sikhism (45%)
20. Scientology (43%)
21. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (42%)
22. New Thought (42%)
23. Islam (40%)
24. Orthodox Judaism (40%)
25. Nontheist (38%)
26. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (30%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (20%)

[Dob Bole]

6. Ok, now pick a church that you might want to visit...

Possibilities for you might include a Society of Friends church (Quaker), a liberal Mennonite congregation, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A, an Episcopal church, possibly a Cooperative or American Baptist church, or even one of the historical "black" churches in your area, like Progressive National Baptist or AME.

This will tell you what churches are in your area:

http://www.churchangel.com/

[Critters2]

7. I'm UCC, and a pastor....So, I think I'll stay where I am, thanks! :)

I also wrote to the site you linked to ask them to list my church as UCC. They have us listed as "Congregational", which is incorrect. Thanks for the link!

[Dob Bole]

8. Oh, sorry! Thought you were the OP!

But at least your church is listed correctly now :)

[Critters2]

11. Hope so. I need to take a quick look-see. nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. But, mycritters2, surely you know there are still Congregational Churches -

the NCCC and the NACCC or some two things like that, the conservative kind and the progressive kind.

[Critters2]

10. My church is not a part of either of those denominations

My church is UCC. Period. And should be so listed on that website.

I went to seminary with some NACCC types. The major difference between us was--we worship God; they worship "the Congregational Way." I can't do it right--they get all weepy and misty-eyed when they say "Congregational Way". And then they bitch about how the E&R took over their churches and seminaries.

:puke:

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Oh, I see where I made the mistake -

I thought you were criticizing the beliefnet test (another link upthread) for offering "Congregational" instead of "UCC" - but I see now you are talking about a different link to a church directory.

I was looking at a different post, and thinking that was the one to which you were referring.

Is the NACCC the conservative annoying branch? I was a member of a Congregational church for a while that was affiliated with the liberal one, and I can never keep the two straight, and I don't feel like googling right now. I'm lazy. :P

I love the liberal Congregational tradition and churches. But then, even though every other church I've been involved with has been UCC, they were all Congregational before joining the UCC, so Congregationalism is truly in my blood, since that's where I've been since I've been, like, 5.

[Critters2]

13. The NACCC is the more liberal of the two, but still WAAAAY too

focused on polity. As I say, they get all weepy and emotional when talking about that good ol' Congregational Way. And they enjoyed insulting those of us with E&R roots. We stole their churches :eyes:

My roots are in the German E side (my ancestors came here to avoid conscription in the Franco-Prussian War, and because they were on the losing side in the Prussian revolution of 1848). I went to Andover Newton to learn the "other" side. I learned okay!

[hvn_nbr_2]

18. What's the difference between Orthodox Quaker and Liberal Quaker?

Anybody know? Once upon a time a long time ago, I went to a Quaker meeting in New Hampshire and really liked it. It was the kind where everyone just sits there silently in the meeting until spirit moves someone to speak. Typically three or four people would say something during the meeting, but sometimes only one or as many as five or six.

When I moved to New Jersey, I tried a Quaker meeting there and it was just like a regular scripted church service.

I'm guessing maybe the first one I went to was "orthodox," old-fashioned, old style, but don't really know.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. I was always told that the difference was between East Coast and West

Coast. At least that was what a fellow graduate student told me during the Nixon era in response to my question, "How could Nixon be a Quaker and pursue the Vietnam War?"

According to this student, the East Coast Quakers are more politically liberal than the West Coast Quakers, who tend to have a more formal organization.

When I lived in Oregon, I encountered faculty from a school called George Fox College. Now George Fox was the founder of Quakerism, so I was surprised to find out what humorless, rigid people these professors were, but I later learned that the college considered itself an evangelical college and differed from places like Wheaton (the one in Illinois) or Biola only in its pacifism.

There was a cute little coffee shop on the edge of the campus, although I don't know whether it actually belonged to the college. No matter who it belonged to, the bookshelves were lined with books by all the typical evangelical authors.

[Critters2]

21. There are Evangelical Quakers and Liberal Quakers

I only know "liberal" Quakers--members of the Religious Society of Friends--in Illinois. But I know members of both traditions in Iowa. The easiest way to know which kind of congregation one is is by whether they call themselves a "meeting" or a "church", and by whether they call their meeting space a "meetinghouse" or a "church".

The kind of meeting that's mostly silence is called "unprogrammed worship", and is typical of the RSOF. The more traditional Christian service is called "programmed worship" and is typical of the Friends Church or Evangelical Friends. There's a good website that explains all this. I'll hunt for it.

[Critters2]

23. Here's a site with Quaker info

http://www.quakerinfo.org/quakerism/branchestoday.html#conservativeYMs

[Jo March]

24. That thing is screwy

The results said that I related 100% to the Mormons - which I don't.

"Contemporary Issues
Abortion is wrong. Homosexuality is wrong, and homosexual rights vehemently opposed. The divine role of woman is mother and wife, helper to the husband. Men are regarded as the head of the family, provider, leader, and teacher. Marriage is regarded as eternal, but divorce is permitted if necessary. In keeping with the belief that doing good works is essential for salvation and is Christian, Mormons established a "welfare" program. Mormons practice monthly fasts and give fast offerings to assist the needy.

Belief in Deity
A "Godhead" of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as three separate entities united in purpose. God the Father resides in heaven with His wife, the Heavenly Mother; Christ, their only begotten Son; and "exalted" Mormons, who become God-like in heaven. God has a perfect body, which looks like ours."

I can't even begin to say what all I don't believe in from just those two paragraphs!

Something must be off or something. I'll take it again and see what it shows for me.

It was interesting, to say the least. :)

[cally]

14. Update

I've been walking precincts with a man who's gotten me to attend his church. We started out talking politics but over time he's talked about his church. So far, I like it. Thanks for all your support.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. What "flavor" is it?

:-)

[cally]

16. Methodist

sort of.

[RevCheesehead]

17. Yay!

:bounce::bounce:

I'm "sort of" Methodist, myself. O8)

[Critters2]

22. Sort of? nt

[davidinalameda]

19. there are some great Episcopal churches in the area

the Bay Area is a hotbed of liberal Episcopalianism

my church in Oakland is fantastic

I recently missed a couple of Sundays and committee meetings and my minister sent me an email asking me if everything was okay

I met him with him and I told him how much I appreciated the emails. He agreed with me when I said that the emails showed that I wasn't just another body in the pews or money in the collection plate.

[hippywife]

25. Not sure where in CA

you are but the Interfaith Alliance only has two affiliates in the state right now, one in Pasadena and one in Fresno. It's a great organization and a good way to find liberal folks of faith.

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter3.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=492901

I'm a member of the Tulsa affiliate and I absolutely recommend joining to anyone!