Liberal-minded churches?

Question

Are there any organized Christianity-based religions that those of us who are more liberal minded can feel comfortable attending? I'm avidly pro-choice and pro-gay rights, so needless to say, I've had a hard time sticking with the Lutheran churches I've grown up in.

Okay, let me clarify - I'm Christian, I was raised Christian and spent most of my life in Lutheran churches (Missouri Synod). My beliefs in Christ are still in tact and I pray regularly but, due to my more liberal views of the world, I don't feel comfortable with organized religion. I'm looking for a place to worship God and Christ without the politics. My views are my views. I'll let God judge me when I die. In the meantime, I'd like to, maybe, find a place of worship where I would fit in. Of course, after reading most of these responses, I would be better off staying away from organized religion. Not too many positive, understanding advocates for Christianity who are looking to guide someone like me, huh? Good to see things haven't changed. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, right?

Answer 1

In my experience the Methodists tend to be fairly liberal minded. I stopped going to christian churches altogether and have been attending a unitarian church instead. The Unitarian church is a place to worship and explore your own faith and spiritual path. You can believe in Jesus if you want to, many of the Unitarians at my church come from a christian background and do believe in Jesus. Unitarians, as a whole, believe he was a good teacher but was not divine. We have people from all sorts of faiths at my church - jewish, buddhist, taoist, and a lot of christian denominations as well.

Also, the area of the country you live in also has some affect on religious offerings. If you live in the North East or along the West Coast, you should have no trouble finding christian churches who are more liberal minded. If you are in the south, as I am, try to find an ecumenical christian church which are found mostly in the large cities and serve the gay and liberal communities.

Best of luck on your search!

Answer 2

Since you clarified your question I will claify my response.

You have to understand that your initial text gives the wrong impression about you. Without knowing you how can we possibly know all of the additional details that you later provided? Your initial text makes it appear that you were looking for a church that believes in abortion and that doesn't believe that homosexuality is a sin.

You will clearly get the wrong types of responses. Then you turn around and accuse folks of being hateful when they were merely responding to what I said in the previous sentences. There will no be stone throwing by anyone, including you.

Anyhow, now that it is cleared up...

Most of the mainline denominations have years upon years of man made rules and doctrines. To undo all of that would admit that they were wrong.

The best thing is to pray and seek God's guidance. Check out your local paper and yellowpages and look for churches that have contemporary worship. Those are more likely to be what you're looking for. They are usually the ones with "community church" in their name. Just go and see where the spirit leads you.

Additionally, when you show up, wear jeans and a t-shirt. If you go in and they are all wearing suits and full dresses, then leave. Their focus is more than likely on the wrong thing.

Finding a solid bible based church and not a tradition based church is a little hard these days.

Answer 3

I could discuss this matter with you and probably point you in the right direction, but there is not enough information in your question for me to work with. I would need to know what you want from your church membership and what your personal beliefs do and do not include. Pro-choice and pro-gay tends to put you at odds with most mainstream orthodox churches, while your basis of Christianity might make you feel out of place in some of the non-denominational churches. I would recommend that you go to belief.net and search for the "belief-o-matic" quiz. It will help you narrow down which religions are most compatable with your beliefs. But the real question is what you want your church membership to do for you. Is it just a place to fellowship on Sundays? Will you have your church perform any rituals for you like marriages and funerals? It might be difficult, but one of your basic decisions regarding church membership is what you need from it.
Blessings and good luck.

Answer 4

Regarding Lutheran churches, ELCA churches tend to be more liberal than Missouri Synod churches, so you might want to check that out. Also, UCC (United Church of Christ) churches tend to be more liberal. Some Methodist churches are quite liberal as well. There's a lot of variety in any denomination, so just visit churches until you discover one that suits you. Personally, I'm more concerned about the church's understanding of grace than I am their politics.

Answer 5

Universal Unitarians

Answer 6

Are you still in Missouri? Maybe a change of locale would help more than a change in denomination.

UCC and American Baptists might be a better match for you. Can you find a Metropolitan Community Church near you? (It's a denomination for people who want a liturgically-conservative Christianity without the anti-gay ___.) Friends of mine are MCC and I just love their community's openness, kindness, compassion and awareness of other people's needs.

Answer 7

Unitarian Universalist? It's the most liberal church I know of that includes Christianity, gay-rights, and more open-minded thinking.

Answer 8

Some of the Lutheran Churches are liberal. I don't know the proper name, but maybe Reformed American?

Answer 9

Unitarian Universalist.

Or try the Belief o Matic for other options:
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

Answer 10

Episcopalian, Liberal Quaker, and Gnostic. Ba'hai and Unitarian Universalists are even more liberal-minded, but they are not strictly Christian, and embrace all walks of life...