What Kind Of Church Is This?

[Apotheoun]

It's the most commonly used attribution among Christians--calling it otherwise could cause confusion.

The attribution that they give is to the Council of Nicaea, which is erroneous. I don't have a problem with a person just referring to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed as "Nicene." But at least give the correct listing of the ecumenical council source (i.e., the Council of Constantinople I).   :smile4:

[Evangetholic]

The attribution that they give is to the Council of Nicaea, which is erroneous. I don't have a problem with a person just referring to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed as "Nicene." But at least give the correct listing of the ecumenical council source (i.e., the Council of Constantinople I).   :smile4:

 

I misunderstood you.

[Apotheoun]

Here is the creed issued by the Council of Nicaea I (A.D. 325):

 

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day He rose again, ascended into heaven; and He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

 

And in the Holy Spirit.

 

But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable'—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.

 

 

 

And below is the creed issued at the Council of Constantinople I (A.D. 381):

 

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

 

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. In one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

Edited March 18, 2013 by Apotheoun

[Archaeology cat]

The next big hit?! Dude, my parents' nominally Methodist congregation has had this description almost verbatim for over a decade. Ad no, they aren't growing, to my knowledge. They did at first, but have since gone back done. It' about the personalities of the leaders there, really. No, this isn't the way to do things.

[Apotheoun]

Church of the Nativity in Timonium aims to 'make church matter'

 

Parish takes non-traditional approach to worship outlined in new book penned by its leaders

 

By Jon Meoli

 

 

A simple walk through the Church of the Nativity makes it clear that the Timonium Roman Catholic Church aims to give its parishioners a different worship experience.

 

A full-band setup, including an electronic drum set, sits beside a seldom-used organ. A production booth tucked in the back right corner controls the video feeds on flat-screens set up in the hallways and projection screens on the walls behind the alter.

 

But to simply note the surface differences between Nativity and the Archdiocese's more traditional parishes ignores over a decade of slow, thoughtful reform by the church's leadership to modernize its practices and engage the community in a way that would attract new members.

 

The decade-long process of turning the Church of the Nativity into a local leader in growing a more culturally relevant church is recounted in a book written by its pastor, the Rev. Michael White, and Tom Corcoran, associate to the pastor, titled, "Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter."

 

The book, which was officially released on Feb. 25, details the events that led up to and followed the church leadership's decision to change its approach.

 

The fruits of the book — and the labor that led to it— is evident at every Mass, when around 4,000 people pass through the church doors and auxiliary seating must be set up all through the building, Corcoran said.

 

Corcoran, a Loyola University Maryland graduate, said the leadership began to decide it was time to change in 2003 after White became frustrated by a parish community that was difficult to satisfy.

 

 

Click here to read the rest of the Baltimore Sun article

[Gabriela]

You forgot the option:

 

"Immediately apparent as Evangelical Protestant, difficult to figure out as Roman Catholic"

[qfnol31]

Although they misidentified the creed as the "Creed of Nicaea" when it is in fact the Creed of Constantinople I. That mistake is fairly common.

I think that's how it's in our Missal today...

[KnightofChrist]

You forgot the option:

"Immediately apparent as Evangelical Protestant, difficult to figure out as Roman Catholic"

Yes, that would have been my vote.

[Brother Adam]

Church of the Nativity in Timonium aims to 'make church matter'

 

Parish takes non-traditional approach to worship outlined in new book penned by its leaders

 

By Jon Meoli

 

 

A simple walk through the Church of the Nativity makes it clear that the Timonium Roman Catholic Church aims to give its parishioners a different worship experience.

 

A full-band setup, including an electronic drum set, sits beside a seldom-used organ. A production booth tucked in the back right corner controls the video feeds on flat-screens set up in the hallways and projection screens on the walls behind the alter.

 

But to simply note the surface differences between Nativity and the Archdiocese's more traditional parishes ignores over a decade of slow, thoughtful reform by the church's leadership to modernize its practices and engage the community in a way that would attract new members.

 

The decade-long process of turning the Church of the Nativity into a local leader in growing a more culturally relevant church is recounted in a book written by its pastor, the Rev. Michael White, and Tom Corcoran, associate to the pastor, titled, "Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter."

 

The book, which was officially released on Feb. 25, details the events that led up to and followed the church leadership's decision to change its approach.

 

The fruits of the book — and the labor that led to it— is evident at every Mass, when around 4,000 people pass through the church doors and auxiliary seating must be set up all through the building, Corcoran said.

 

Corcoran, a Loyola University Maryland graduate, said the leadership began to decide it was time to change in 2003 after White became frustrated by a parish community that was difficult to satisfy.

 

 

Click here to read the rest of the Baltimore Sun article

 

How would you respond to this way of doing "church" (I hate that phraseology, but it is what they use) ? I have ideas based on my time as a Baptist and the long term effect of this type of "seeker friendly" atmosphere. Is this what the Catholic Church intends for its liturgy and worship? For evangelization? Is this what Christ intends? Do they have any ideas that work, compared to those that may not be appropriate? Such as emphasis on tithing 10%, small group catechesis, faith formation for children and youth? Having a coffee house in church?

[Gabriela]

It's full-scale, no-holds-barred, shameless consumerization of religion. It's church-gone-corporate. The parishioner is customer is always right—anything so long as they keep "buying".

 

We know this dangerous slide from higher education already. The second an institution of any sort starts marketing its "product" and especially branding itself, its sole purpose will be "market survival". Nothing else will matter henceforth, no matter what lofty or non-material priorities or mission it may once have had (or even always had, historically). It will be dead to all things spirit from that point on.

Edited March 19, 2013 by curiousing

[Kateri89]

All access pass for a Church. what a bunch of garbage. That's like Westminster Abbey charging 18 pounds to go in. Believe me, I did not pay to go into it.

I did but I think it was 16 pounds when I went.  Still too expensive to go into an Abbey.  I enjoyed the experience, nevertheless.   :proud:

[Apotheoun]

How would you respond to this way of doing "church" (I hate that phraseology, but it is what they use) ? I have ideas based on my time as a Baptist and the long term effect of this type of "seeker friendly" atmosphere. Is this what the Catholic Church intends for its liturgy and worship? For evangelization? Is this what Christ intends? Do they have any ideas that work, compared to those that may not be appropriate? Such as emphasis on tithing 10%, small group catechesis, faith formation for children and youth? Having a coffee house in church?

After having watched a lot of the videos on their Youtube channel, I get the impression that Nativity Church is a business. A lot of the terminology they use is similar to what I have experienced at the various insurance companies I have worked at over the years. Perhaps they will bring in people, but I do not know how long they will be able to hold the interest of their new parishioners, and they will probably lose some people who are not all that interested in contemporary culture or worshipping in a modernist manner. The final result will, in my opinion, not be to rebuild the Church, but to create an all new church.

 

Now as far as their ideas are concerned, I am sure that they have some good ones, after all . . . nothing is all bad. :smile3:

 

And finally, if I want to go to a coffee shop I will go to one. I do not expect the Church to be a mall.

Edited March 19, 2013 by Apotheoun

[Apotheoun]

I find it funny that in the book the author constantly refers to the present situation as reducing people to customers, and yet the language used in their videos - even to describe to church of the Nativity (e.g., campus, etc.) - sounds like a business and not a Church.

Edited March 19, 2013 by Apotheoun

[eagle_eye222001]

I guessed non-denom but the "Lent with candles" looked funny.

 

 

I like their baptismal sign up process.....that's about it.

 

http://churchnativity.tv/#/membership/baptisms

[Apotheoun]

I guessed non-denom but the "Lent with candles" looked funny.

 

 

I like their baptismal sign up process.....that's about it.

 

http://churchnativity.tv/#/membership/baptisms

I agree it is nice. As the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day.