What 'type' of churches do we all go to?

[LizziAndB]

I was just interested in what denomination of church everyone goes to? I go to a evangelical brethren church.

[blithedance]

Em, the Midlands. DS1 (only 4) calls NF the "noisy church", I think he preferred the previous place which is abit of a dilemma.

Our DC's (and consequently us, and various neighbours) hardly slept at all the first night. Suggsest you go a day early to a nearby campsite, you will get no sleep, your DD will be exhausted and will sleep like a log the following 2 nights.

[slapheadsrock]

Community church - quite evangelical and charismatic (which kinda means happy clappy banner waving Tiredlady, just a better term for it!)

Met my husband there. Was taken by a friend when I moved to the area, ooh, ouch, 16 years ago!

Wouldn't swop it for anything. Great place to be part of.

[blithedance]

Charismatic means, church which emphasises gifts of the Holy Spirit - prophecy, speaking/praying in tongues, healing etc. Think Pentecostal, "happy-clappy", usually but not exclusively an informal kind of church. Ideally balanced with solid preaching and foundation in the Bible and community ministry, othewise it can get a bit airy-fairy.

[tiredlady]

Thankyou for answering slapheads rock. I must say though, that I thought happy clappy etc meant evangelical. Are the two terms interchangeable, or different?

(Sorry, it sounds as if I am asking for a tutorial here)

[blithedance]

I had wondered whether there was anybody from a community church on MN, usually on these threads people are talking about the doings of their vicars and so on. Was going to say, where are the Baptists, but they are probably still at evening service

[slapheadsrock]

Well put!

I think it's one of those words where you know what it means, just explaining it is hard.

[slapheadsrock]

What's wrong with a community church?

[tiredlady]

Thanks too, blithedance.

Speaking in tongues?
Really?
Does that happen often in your church?

(don't want to offend anyone, just really really interested)

[blithedance]

Sorry slapheadsrock I meant anyone else from a community church, like me. I'm tired too. I'm going to x-post you again probably sorry!.

Evangelical means beliefs based on the Bible (the word means Gospel). Churches can be evangelical with or without being charismatic. Most mainstream UK churches would probably call themselves evangelical.

Evangelistic on the other hand, means trying to convert people (e.g. "we are having an evangelistic outreach event"). The terms get mis-used a lot.

[LizziAndB]

Evangelical-Christian theological view emphasizing personal faith and the authority of the Bible. The two terms are not interchangeable

[slapheadsrock]

We have speaking in tongues. And healings. And banner waving. And great kids groups. And lots of trips to Africa - we have built and are sponsoring a school out there, currently with 100 kids in it.

[tiredlady]

Sorry to keep asking, but, how can a church NOT be evangelical. Surely all churches in the christian faith have their beliefs based in the Bible. Does that mean that the Catholic church is evangelical?

(feel free to ignore my questions)

[tiredlady]

Your church sounds fascinating slapheadsrock!

[slapheadsrock]

Hmmm.... local community not so sure since we have managed to get the tender from the council to build a church on an unused plot of land. We currently meet in a school. It will be so neat to have our own building.
We also run language classes for english as a foreign language for local women (mostly asian ladies.) and organise regular local fun days including cleaning up estates and doing gardening for the housebound. Truly community in spirit and name!

[blithedance]

Tiredlady your last question was too hard for me . I think evangelical is distinct from liberal but what those labels mean when you get down to brass tacks I don't know.

where is that MNer who was training to be a vicar now we need her?

[LizziAndB]

Tiredlady- Yes you are right all christian churches should be evangleical, however this is not always the case, some take things and apply it to mean other things. The catholic church do not believe in a personal faith with God, they pray to priest, ask the priest for forgiveness NOT God! I have a personal faith in Chirst which means I pray and ask forgiveness from him not another man.

[jcscot]

Another Scot here. We go to our local RC parish, where my family have been members for generations. I was baptised, confirmed and married there, as were my parents. I went to the school next door (where my father and two of my aunts taught) so there's a real sense of being tied to the church and very much part of the community.

[SqueakyPop]

There are three types of churchmanship - evangelical, liberal and catholic.

Evangelical means putting emphasis on scripture, above all. Liberal means trying to live a Godly life in the modern world. Catholic mean following the traditions of the faith handed down by the early church fathers and being tied to all Christians throughout time.

Personally, I am sceptical of a church that only recognises one type of churchmanship, and poo-poos anyone that is not like them. One of the beauties of Anglicanism is that you get everything, with an individual church emphasising one type of churchmanship, but not denying the others.

One of the mottoes of Anglicanism is Scripture, Reason, Tradition. Scripture is the most important aspect, followed by reason, followed by the traditions of the church.

[AMumInScotland]

Another Scot - currently going to Scottish Episcopal Church - part of Anglican Communion, so close to CofE, but with some significant differences too.

TiredLady - there are so many denominations, and so many words used to describe them, that it's really tricky!

Evangelical sort of means interested in preaching the gospel, but churches in this category also have a very strong view on the authority of the bible and tend to emphasise the need to be "born again" into Christ. They do tend to be happy-clappy, but don't have to be.

On the other hand, churches which describe themselves as liberal "interpret scripture without any preconceived notion of inerrancy of scripture or the correctness of Church dogma" (Wikipedia) - ie they study it and learn from it, but do not view it as having authority. But they can look quite traditional or look happy-clappy!

Protestant churches tend to stress the need for personal responsibility and a direct relationship with God.

Catholic churches tend to put high value on tradition, and the position of priests (and saints) interceding for believers.

Charismatic churches "believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as miracles, prophecy, and glossolalia (speaking in other tongues or languages), are available to contemporary Christians and may be experienced and practiced today."(Wikipedia again) - so their services tend to include these kinds of things, and they often have "healing services" etc.

But, all these things are not mutually exclusive, so a church might be described as "Evangelical Catholic" or "Charismatic Evangelical" etc.

[DutchOma]

I'm worshipping at a Baptist church, but was confirmed and married at Christ Church (CofE) in Amsterdam.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

Village CofE very fusty & full of cobwebs.

I love the quietness of it in a world where there is too much noise. I find little peace at other times but I find peace there.

Friend goes to NF church in Cambridge keep trying to get me to go but from her description it will be too happy clappy for me..

From a Mum in Scotland's description I definately like the protestant stance (for me) although as a church it isn't great for the kids - but we are working on it with the help from a new Curate and his wife who were primary school teachers before came to the ministry.

[SummatAnNowt]

CofE. The vicar is trying to modernise, he annoys the old folks with his kids services and kid friendly singing at the end after they've come in from junior church, as it often involves clapping, handwaving, and guitars. Under 3's are free to run around during the service and the vicar will often break to chat to them if they come right up to the front.

[Bronze]

I don't. Not for lack of wanting. I used to go to a Vineyard (grew up Evangelical) but here there is one Church in the area (or more than one with the same Vicar, services different weeks.) It is so high Anglican I have to admit the first time I went I turned to my friend and asked 'are you sure it's not Catholic?'. I just couldn't cope with it. It seems so pious and all about the pomp rather than worship. By the way I'm not saying thats what Catholocism is about just the waving in incense and stuff made me unsure.

[hf128219]

Local catholic church every Sunday at 09.00

[Weegiemum]

Thought I'd answered but I haven't!

I go to a large, charismatic, evangelical Baptist church in Glasgow. We chose to go there when we moved from the back of beyond because it had lively worship, a great kids programme, loads going on, homegroups and was really focused on mission. Before that we went to a teeny timy rural Episcopal church, though both dh and I were brought up Presbyterian.

My church is great and frustrating in equal measure, as I am sure many are. I love the kids work - our children learn and grow and change every week - it is done soooo well. There is a contemplative prayer group we like and we have a fabby homegroup. The worship can vary - some weeks it is too much me! Lord and not enough focus on God - can be too much what we want God to do for us, not what we want to do for God. Other weeks it transports me, and is an amazing time of communion with God. The preaching is great - especially the Senior Pastor, though the others are good as well.