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Religion question
I'm a little embarrased to ask this, but can anyone share with me what
exactly a "congregational " church is? We're moving to a small town and that is the only church in town. Is it a protestant denomination, or for anyone christian, or for anyone at all? Forgive me if I'm being dumb but I'm catholic and haven't got a clue. I'd like to go to that church to get to know the people in town, but there is a catholic church only about 15-20 minutes away so it's no big deal to go there. I'm not too good about attending church anyway. laurie mommy to Jessica, 2.5 years and Christopher, 5.5 months *This email address is now valid* |
#2
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Religion question
x-no-archive:yes "Laurie" wrote:
I'm a little embarrased to ask this, but can anyone share with me what exactly a "congregational " church is? We're moving to a small town and that is the only church in town. Is it a protestant denomination, or for anyone christian, or for anyone at all? Forgive me if I'm being dumb but I'm catholic and haven't got a clue. I'd like to go to that church to get to know the people in town, but there is a catholic church only about 15-20 minutes away so it's no big deal to go there. I'm not too good about attending church anyway. About 44 years ago I took a Catholic friend to a Congregational church and they didn't think it looked like a church at all. A congregational church is technically a protestant church and it is ruled by the congregation. So there's not a big central organization - not only in decor and worship services, but in organization almost the exact opposite of the Catholic church. According to the website of a Congregational church in CT, "Puritans seeking a more local autonomy and a simpler church service founded the first Congregational churches in New England in the 1600's. Over the next two centuries, Congregationalism was the most popular form of worship in New England... "..an independent structure within an association of other Congregational churches. Since 1957, Shelton Congregational Church has also been part of the United Church of Christ, a reunited body of protestant churches including Congregational and Evangelical... "Church affairs are managed by members of the church. Many activities are governed by committees, and church members are encouraged to take part in committee work and decision-making. Major issues are decided by vote in meetings of the full congregation." grandma Rosalie |
#3
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Religion question
"Laurie" wrote in message . net... I'm a little embarrased to ask this, but can anyone share with me what exactly a "congregational " church is? We're moving to a small town and that is the only church in town. Is it a protestant denomination, or for anyone christian, or for anyone at all? Forgive me if I'm being dumb but I'm catholic and haven't got a clue. I'd like to go to that church to get to know the people in town, but there is a catholic church only about 15-20 minutes away so it's no big deal to go there. I'm not too good about attending church anyway. Congregational churches are mainline protestant. The leader of the community is an ordained minister, many of whom are married and, in this day and age, many of whom are women. Communion is present, usually the first service of a month, there is a board of people who direct the church in concert with the minister, and there are often subcommittees to address specific areas like budget or calling a new minister. Having grown up in Congregational churches and attended many Catholic services I suspect you would find a big difference in certain doctrin but could also find that there are more similarities than differences. Good luck in finding the church home that meets your familys needs best. -Aula |
#4
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Religion question
In article ,
"Laurie" wrote: I'm a little embarrased to ask this, but can anyone share with me what exactly a "congregational " church is? We're moving to a small town and that is the only church in town. Is it a protestant denomination, or for anyone christian, or for anyone at all? Forgive me if I'm being dumb but I'm catholic and haven't got a clue. I'd like to go to that church to get to know the people in town, but there is a catholic church only about 15-20 minutes away so it's no big deal to go there. I'm not too good about attending church anyway. You would have to call to ask specifically which protestant denomination, but it is most likely Unitited Church of Christ, which is a liberal main line protestant denomination which practices congregational polity (ie, there is no organizational heirarchy outside the congregation telling them what to do -- the lay members of the congregation "own" the church and make the decisions.) It would be open to anyone who wishes to attend; however, protestant services are different from Catholic services in some significant ways, and the theology is different, so it's hard to say if you would be comfortable there. You might find it wonderful -- it's certainly worth checking out. meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
#5
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Religion question
Laurie wrote: I'm a little embarrased to ask this, but can anyone share with me what exactly a "congregational " church is? We're moving to a small town and that is the only church in town. Is it a protestant denomination, or for anyone christian, or for anyone at all? Forgive me if I'm being dumb but I'm catholic and haven't got a clue. I'd like to go to that church to get to know the people in town, but there is a catholic church only about 15-20 minutes away so it's no big deal to go there. I'm not too good about attending church anyway. It's a mainline Protestant denomination, but I'd expect they'd encourage anybody to come. I've never been to a Congregational church, but I have the impression it's fairly similar to a Baptist church in that there's not a church hierarchy like you have in the Catholic church (or Methodist or Episcopal churches, for that matter). The individual congregation runs the church, picks the minister, etc. Clisby |
#6
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Religion question
: It's a mainline Protestant denomination, but I'd expect they'd encourage
: anybody to come. I've never been to a Congregational church, but I : have the impression it's fairly similar to a Baptist church in that : there's not a church hierarchy like you have in the Catholic church (or : Methodist or Episcopal churches, for that matter). The individual : congregation runs the church, picks the minister, etc. In that respect it is similar to a Baptist church, but that would be the only way. The Congregational church is generally much more reserved in terms of their expression of worship. (I grew up in the Congregational church, and have been to many services at Baptist churches.) -- ColoradoSkiBum |
#7
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Religion question
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#8
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Religion question
ColoradoSkiBum wrote:
In that respect it is similar to a Baptist church, but that would be the only way. The Congregational church is generally much more reserved in terms of their expression of worship. (I grew up in the Congregational church, and have been to many services at Baptist churches.) I'd agree with this. I was a Catholic as a child and my husband was raised Baptist and we go to a Congregational Church now. Our church is very austere - sleek wood and pews with walls and doors forming boxes (for everyone) and lots of silent prayer and beautiful flowers and music. There is very little decoration and no stained glass - just some ribbons hung during various liturgical seasons. It has some litergy but not nearly as much as a Catholic church. One of the things I really like about it is that no one checks your doctrine at the door. You can believe anything you want and just join the community in spiritual endeavors at whatever place you happen to be on your spiritual path. No one is keeping tabs on how often you come or how well dressed you are, either. Two more points to add that no one else mentioned: whenever you see a white-spired New England village church it's probably a Congregational church. The history is that it formed the first town governments in most New England villages as it was settled. I believe mine was formed in 1678 (yes, I'm in the U.S. and no, that isn't a typo.) The other point is that new people walking through the door are VERY VERY welcome. As fresh meat. A church run entirely by committee ALWAYS needs new committee members. My advice is to decline being appointed to any committee until you've been going for a year. Seriously. You're likely to be offered the chair of some committee on your second visit! :-) As for it being cross-denominational with Presbyterians, I don't know about that, but mine is cross-denominational with Unitarian-Universalist (a "protestant" religion so liberal that it can't necessarily even be called Christian anymore.) My guess is that individual churches fall all over the place on the liberal/traditional spectrum. -- Wendy |
#9
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Religion question
"Laurie" writes:
I'm a little embarrased to ask this, but can anyone share with me what exactly a "congregational " church is? We're moving to a small town and that is the only church in town. Is it a protestant denomination, or for anyone christian, or for anyone at all? Generally the term "congregational" refers to a church in which the congregation (basically the people who are members of the local church) have authority. It doesn't usually refer to any particular denomination of Protestants, but to certain types of denominations. Of course non-denominational churches are congregational too. Historically the congregational movement is a reaction of the Roman Catholic Church and to Protestant denominations that retained the Catholic authority structure. (An example of the later is the Episcopalian/Anglican denomination. They retained bishops, but rejected papal authority.) One key difference is that pastors are hired by the local church rather than assigned by higher authorities. Forgive me if I'm being dumb but I'm catholic and haven't got a clue. You aren't being dumb. It's worth checking out the people who might be watching your children in the nursery and teaching them. One of the drawbacks to Congregationalism is that a newcomer can't be certain about theology and beliefs of the leadership without examining what they say. Until you meet the pastor and hear what he has to say, you won't know. I'd like to go to that church to get to know the people in town, but there is a catholic church only about 15-20 minutes away so it's no big deal to go there. I'm not too good about attending church anyway. Judging from the above, I sure hope you give the congregational church a try. Most likely it will be very different from the Catholic Mass. Hopefully it will challenge your beliefs an draw you closer to God. It would also be a great place to meet people and find friends for your children. As an aside, the surest way I know to evaluate a church's teaching is to compare it to what the Bible says. Be especially wary of people that take a verse or two out of historical and textual context and base their belief system on it, and people who have significant extra-biblical sources for their beliefs. Jon -- But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. -- Joshua 24:15 (NIV) |
#10
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Religion question
: I'd agree with this. I was a Catholic as a child and my husband was : raised Baptist and we go to a Congregational Church now. Our church is : very austere - sleek wood and pews with walls and doors forming boxes (for : everyone) and lots of silent prayer and beautiful flowers and : music. There is very little decoration and no stained glass - just some : ribbons hung during various liturgical seasons. It has some litergy but : not nearly as much as a Catholic church. Well there's a difference--the Congregational church I was raised in was very ornate and had lots of stained glass. But like you said it was also very private, like nobody shouted out "hallelujiah!" or "amen" during the survices. Much more private, less demonstrative. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
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