What kind of church is this?

[Aheadofyourtime]

I am looking fr a new church which is Christian but with more warmth and inspiration than I feel I am experiencing at my local COE church.
I found a church some colleagues go to it is called an Apostolic church and is an evangelical Christian church. There is communion service, a Pastor and they believe in Baptism.

I am a bit lost to be honest.. Does this mean I will have to be baptised into the church and is the Pastor a pastor in the same way the COE vicar is?

Well there be speaking in tongues etc?

I like to worship quietly but am a believer ...can anyone suggest which kind of church I am searching for and what this local church might be like?

If this is the umbrella organisation then it is a Pentecostal church with what looks like believers baptism. I've not come across this version of Pentecostalism and they do vary to the extent that they interact with other churches. This one does look quite controlling as you have to ask why respect the elders is number two in their beliefs but this may have something to do with a historical split and the local church may be very welcoming.

www.apostolic-church.org/index.php/about-us/beliefs

Why don't you try the Methodists, URC, Baptists or one of the other more mainstream denominations or even another C of E church before trying something that is more on the edge?

Thanks .
Have found a baptist church and evangelical church ( which seems to be baptist too)nearby.
Maybe I shall go and see what I find.
Rather dismayed to see separate women and men bible study times.

Try a methodist church. They usually have fellowship after a service, this an informal gathering, cup of tea, chat about anything you like, biscuit, let the children run around playing. people will say hello to you, but careful you don't get pounced on to volunteer for something before you're ready! This happens in a lot to churches due to diminishing congregations! Good luck and God bless.

Maybe Quakers? Though it depends whether you want Eucharist as not sure whether they do that

Another vote for Methodist, and I'm atheist. I've had a few RC friends marry in Methodist churches due to prior divorce and have always been made welcome as a total stranger, unbeliever and someone from outside the areas.

OK I know that is not relevant to someone going to church to pray, but I think if I can be made welcome then most people can.

I don't think it does any harm to shop around until you find a church you feel suits you. I am RC and hope other RC churches would make you as welcome as I know mine does but I understand there is a big array of the types of worship in C of E plus all the other protestant churches described above. I don't think you know till you try. There is another thread on differences between denominations but the feel in churches of the same denomination can be different. Hope you find what you are looking for.

I am American so not that familiar with the UK situation regarding churches, but I do know that the separate women and men thing in the US would signal conservative, if not fundamental. I am Episcopalian, which like CofE is part of the Anglican Communion.

I am also going to suggest Methodist. My brother left the Episcopal Church several years ago for the Methodist Church, mainly because of the youth programs they had for my nephews, and he and his family have been very happy there. It is a liturgical church and has roots in Anglicanism so is not that much of a culture shock in changing. The Methodist Church also has a long history of commitment to social justice issues, which is very appealing to me.

Thanks all.

I am not sure if there is a Methodist church nearby will have to google.
Lots of Baptist and Evangelical style churches though.

have you looked at Christadelphians? they are bible believing baptism believers but no speaking in tongues. very friendly and welcoming in my experience.

Will have a look.. We are a bit remote so not sure

Found both English Baptist and Methodist .. not right on doorstep but close enough to get to a meeting per week. Also an Evangelical church same area.

It's got me thinking... Several of the sites say they believe the Bible to be without error. Over the years I have tended to see the Old Testament as representative of the views and scientific understanding ofthe time rather than verbatim truth.

Reading what you've said, the Apostolics are def. not for you. I'm not a believer but I work with a lot of churches. They all have their own flavour. Apostolic churches tend to be very BME, which in itself is not of course a bad thing, but they reflect the way that churches are run in other parts of the world, often Nigeria/Ghana. If you like to question things, expect gender equality, don't want to tithe them 10% of your gross income, and prefer a quietish worship style, you won't like these churches.

What is BME?

Yes wondered what the Tithes were all about.

Although am drawn to this (Apostolic)church as I have friends that attend, I don't think it's for me. There is also separate worship for adults and children whereas I would prefer to be together.

Still don't know between Evangelical Bapist of which there are two local, and Methodist which I have found too.

Will have to do a visit to each over the summer.

BME = black and minority ethnic.

Thanks. This is interesting and it's making me think what organised religion I want to follow.. So far I have tended to slightly follow my own path.

I wouldn't necessarily think women-only study groups are a bad idea. If it's similar to society on general, women would probably not speak up as much as men, so a single-sex group could engender confidence in the women and ensure their opinions are not drowned out.