Church Mingling

Yesterday I decided to visit a church that I promised to visit about two years ago.. I figure it’s never too late to follow through on a promise.

The First Congregational Church. This is a church like I have never seen before. When I first walked in the door a man by the name of Mark welcomed me and asked me if I wanted a name tag! (Simple, but that makes things much easier and it helps you remember people’s name- I did walk around with a name tag on all day because I forgot, but whatever!)

The church was had an ocean like back drop and ocean like sheets on the floor in a path between the two podiums. In the middle of the path was this wonderfully crafted wooden table that said… “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.”, the Scripture from Colossians 3. As I was looking for a seat in this uniquely arranged room of chairs, when a black lady that is dressed in an robe that matches the path on the floor and the back drop of the church walks up to me and says, “ Is this your first time with us?” Of course it was and it obviously looked like it!

She introduced herself as the Pastor of church and introduced me to some people and they asked me to sit with them. It was a very, very strange meeting, well to me. I was scared to walk in at first because there were A LOT of old white people and they had “Sunday Dress” on. I had on blue jeans and long sleeved shrist, but when I got inside I noticed that the congregation was very mixed racially and in dress, including many gay couples.

I was sure once the lady got up I was going to be in something like a colt…

They had a scripture reading and the other Pastor, who was also a women, but white, got up and gave a message about giving; it was smooth and it was true.

The thing that I love most about this church was the spirit was so Zin, which I’m not sure that is the word I should use to describe a church. However, there was a huge since of community. They did a lot of things for Memphis and a lot of stuff for the people of the church. People can be so worried about the City their church is in that they forget to feed and care for the people of the church. You have to have balance to do either one effectively.

I am not sure how I feel about women Pastors. This is something that I have been struggling with for a very, very long time. I do not know where I stand on it. Do I think women will to Hell for teaching The Word of God…NO. There are a lot of things that we incorrectly that we will not go to Hell for, only by the grace of God. I also do not know where their stance is on Homosexuality. I do not think that is right, but I do not think we should shun Homosexuality either. We are suppose to be loving and accepting- not of the sin but of the person. Loving and caring for them as we would anyone else.

We need to be at a place where we understand people who are different from us, that way we can pray for them in the most effective way and then let the Lord take care of the rest. He did not ask us to judge, he did not ask us to condemn, but to only show His love- He will take care of the rest. I believe I will visit this church again, I believe there is a lot that could be learned through creating relationships with this congregation.