what denominations

[slide to the left]

are considered progressive? I can't seem to find a church thats close.

[Divernan]

1. Quakers/Friends.

nt

[DrRang]

2. some Episcopal congregations --

are very liberal, like ours. The Archbishop of Cantebury has ripped Bush a new one over the Iraq War, is very strong in supporting environmental sanity, and strongly supports equality and justice. Same thing for the Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal church. The worldwide Anglican Communion is locked in a struggle over gay marriage and may eventually split over the issue. Our particular church is very gay-friendly but other individual churches may not be the same.

[teenagebambam]

3. I second the Episcopal nod...

...but you have to check out individual congregations. I sing at the National Cathedral in DC, VERY progressive, gay supportive, anti-war, etc. But my partner works in an Episcopal Church less than 10 miles away, with a high African immigrant population, and they are just the opposite.

[grumpy old fart]

4. I really don't know why "conservative" Episcopalians don't just go Baptist

and be done with it.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

20. Because

they drink grape juice and their music sucks.

[kwassa]

10. Which church?

since I've been in several in the Washington diocese that have large African immigrant membership, but are quite liberal.

There are only a few in this diocese that are very conservative.

[hunter]

5. It depends very much where you live.

Few denominations are monolithic, not even the Catholic Church.

Assuming you are talking about Christian churches, in some communities most churches will be conservative and in other communities most churches will be "progressive."

Some denominations will tend to lean in one direction or another, but you can still find many church communities of supposedly "liberal" denominations that are very uncomfortable with progressive issues such as gay marriage or anti Iraq war activism.

I wouldn't dismiss your own religious foundations either. Which religious denominations are you comfortable with? My own spectrum of beliefs runs Catholic-Episcopal-Quaker, and then there are the many Orthodox Churches, which are not so easily classified on a political spectrum. ( You might want to check out http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/twelvethings.html and explore U.S. Orthodoxy from there.)

Generally I'm not as comfortable with Protestant denominations as I am with those listed above. For various reasons churches such as the Unitarian Universalists don't appeal to me.

But nothing turns me off a church quicker than anti-intellectualism. I don't want anything to do with churches that oppose the teaching of evolution or promote the teaching of "creation science" or "intelligent design." I don't want anything to do with churches that claim they are the only certain pathway to heaven, and that everyone else is probably going to hell. They live in a terrible world of superstition. But I've been surprised by some. There are people like Jimmy Carter who somehow reconcile the science of evolutionary biology with their own more literal understanding of Genesis and they do not support the gutting of school biology curriculum in favor of their own fearful superstitions.

Non-Christians may of course consider these discussions madness. I myself do not see religion as a necessarry foundation of human ethics. My God is a Just God and a Strong God. He would not rely upon highly imperfect human societies and governments to enforce religious beliefs.

[Goblinmonger]

6. Shout out for UU

I am an atheist. My wife is agnostic. We attend a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship so that our children can have exposure to many different belief systems and see what makes sense to them. I am very happy with the fellowship (and I can be a nasty SOB sometimes).

[supernova]

7. United Church of Christ

[Critters2]

17. By far the most progressive Christian denomination

for more info....www.stillspeaking.com

[slide to the left]

8. its hard

I live in a very conservative area. I believe in a lot of things, esp. universalism (a real taboo in Dallas- Fort Worth) and the only churches here are that gay-ok and universalist are kinda far away. I am a reformed fundie and don't want to be anywhere that is like that.

[kwassa]

9. well Texas episcopals tend to be very conservative

so here are Unitarian churches

http://www.dallasuu.org/

http://www.westsideuu.org/

First Jefferson Unitarian Univest CHRCH of ft wrth
[phone]
[phone]
1959 Sandy LN
Fort Worth, TX 76112

[Critters2]

15. Try Cathedral of Hope

a huge, gay friendly UCC in Dallas. Formerly MCC Dallas, it's the largest church in the world with a specific ministry to glbt people, but is clear that its ministry is to all people. Very cool church..

http://www.cathedralofhope.com/canons/index.php

[derby378]

18. If you're looking for an MCC church in Dallas...

Here's a couple (from their website):

Promise MCC (Rev. Jon Robert Haack)
2527 W. Colorado Blvd.
Dallas TX 75211
214-623-8400

MCC of Greater Dallas (Rev. Colleen Darraugh)
Two Metro Square
2775 Villa Creek Dr. Ste. 210
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
972-243-0761

[WritingIsMyReligion]

11. UU (Unitarian Universalist).

The only church I could ever be forced to join, if I hadn't given up organized religion entirely.

The UCC (United Church of Christ) is also progressive--my grandfather is a UCC minister here in Maine.

[squarepants]

12. I sometimes go...

to a church called Unity. They believe in God, but are very open to other religions and beliefs. Actually to better describe it, I guess you could say that they mix christianity along with buddhism/eastern religions and beliefs and "new age" principles.

[mtf80123]

13. Buddhist

The most progressive of them all.

[hunter]

19. Again, it depends where you live.

Some can be more traditional than others and that can translate into conservative here in the U.S. political spectrum.

[El Supremo]

14. Most Presbyterian (USA).

We don't allow openly gay people to be ordained yet, but we are in the forefront of most other social and peace issues.

[Critters2]

16. The local PCUSA church is evangelical and VERY conservative

We've benefitted from it, though. We've gained about 8 glbt folks who were asked to leave there (inclduing two organists they fired for being gay. Every organist I've ever known is gay, so I think they're SOL!)

I think the PCUSA is moving to the right.