Gender Inclusive
Churches of Christ
Last update: 05/16/11
The churches listed below have all opened their doors to more inclusive participation by women in the worship, leadership, ministries, and teaching. Each congregation has decided through much study how inclusive they would like to be. Some congregations are inclusive only in the worship and teaching ministries while others have removed all barriers to women being able to use the gifts they have received from God.
The guide lines I developed for listing these churches are as follows:
a) does this church use women in the worship to help lead worship by leading prayer, giving communion talks, leading singing, etc?
b) are women used to their fullest capabilities to teach all age groups regardless of gender in Bible Classes whenever the church gathers?
c) do women serve in leadership positions such as pulpit minister, worship leader, deacon, and elder?
d) does the church publish a clear statement of gender inclusiveness on their web site?
e) Is a woman serving only in the position of Children’s Minister or Women's Minister and none of the above apply?
If the answer to any single question (a), (b) (c) or (d) is yes, then I include the church on my list. If the only yes answer is selection (e), I do not list that congregation. I have chosen to not list churches where the only position for a female is as the children's or women's minister because many churches that presently have these staff positions do not allow women to serve or participate in any other part of worship, teaching, or leadership.
I have tried to accurately describe the present inclusiveness of each church listed. The information may or may not be completely accurate and will be updated should better information become available. If you are a member of any of the listed congregations and feel the description is not accurate, please contact me. If you are a member of a gender inclusive Church of Christ as described above that is not listed here, please contact me so that I may list your congregation. Be sure to state in the subject line of your email "Gender Inclusive Church of Christ" and include a brief description of the congregation. The goal of this list is to collect as many links to gender inclusive Churches of Christ as possible so that Christians can find churches where the Galations 3:26-28 approach to worship, work in the church, teaching, and leadership is important. If you know of a gender inclusive Church of Christ that does not have a web site, I will list it on my page once I confirmed the accuracy of the information.
(italicized wording below is taken directly from the church's website or excerpted from an email)
Alabama
Cahaba Valley Church Birmingham, AL. Rev. George Hollis , Pastor and Preaching Minister
"is a simple church, located down a narrow lane. It’s a place where we hope you can feel at home with us as we seek God’s will, and as we love and serve God’s people together." An early leader in the gender equality and inclusive movement, it is fully inclusive at al levels of ministry, service, and leadership.
California
Pasadena Church of Christ , Pasadena, California
We are a more progressive Church of Christ that is gender inclusive. We try to live out our Christian walks without the legalism and fundamentalism that has given so many Churches of Christ a bad name. We want a second chance to live out our calling in a fresh way that is enlivened by God's Holy Spirit...diligently trying to follow Him. The level of gender inclusiveness cannot be determined from their website.
Connecticut
Stamford Church of Christ in Stamford, CT, "is a multi-racial, gender-inclusive Church of Christ. We honor as our spiritual heritage those attempts that began in America early in the 19th century to restore the life and spirit of Christianity as envisioned by Jesus and his apostles." Another early leader in the full equality and inclusion of women in all areas of church service, ministry, and leadership
Georgia
Northlake Church of Christ, Atlanta, Georgia Carson Reed, Senior Minister
Because we believe that every person has gifts to serve the church and the world, we welcome both men and women to participate in all ministries and in our worship assemblies. If you would like to learn more click here for a statement by the Northlake Elders.
Michigan
Troy Church of Christ in Troy, MI. "After many years of studying and prayerfully reflecting on women’s roles in our public gatherings, our church family concluded that part of being true to Scripture was to include women in various capacities while embracing unity and peace. The result is that both men and women share in the responsibilities of serving during our assembly through Communion, Bible Reading, Prayer and Testimony."
Maryland
Church of Christ in Columbia, Maryland "We are a gender inclusive, a capella fellowship, who welcome all who are searching, heal those who are hurting, support those who are growing, celebrate with those who are changing, and disciple those who are maturing." At the present time, this congregation does not include women in their leadership but advertises gender inclusion at other levels of church service and involvement.
New York
Manhattan Church of Christ New York, NY
"A community of people on a spiritual journey together. We are striving to grow in devotion to God and in service to people." Not fully gender inclusive at leadership level at this time but was one of the leaders in including females in most areas of church service, ministry, worship, and teaching. They have gender equality and inclusive teaching material on their resources page.
West Islip Church of Christ, West Islip, New York
"is dedicated to serving the community and spreading the ministry of Jesus. We praise God joyfully and reflectively in worship services designed to let everyone participate—men and women, young and old." This congregation is an early leader in the gender equality and gender inclusive movement. It had the first husband and wife preaching team in the churches of Christ. West Islip is fully inclusive at all levels of church involvement and leadership.
Oregon
Agape Church of Christ, Portland, Oregon Ron Clark, preaching minister.
A fully gender inclusive church that is focused on outreach and empowering people, especially women to do ministry.
Texas
Bering Drive Church of Christ Houston, Texas.
A fully gender inclusive church with "a mission to bring people into a relationship with God, in a community of Jesus' disciples, seeking Biblical, nondenominational Christianity, and serving others in the compassion and power of the Holy Spirit."
Canyon Creek Church of Christ Temple, Texas Michael Fortson, Minister.
Excerpted from an email I receive from Michael Fortson: We have women ministry leaders, women teach mixed adult classes, women have made announcements, women sing solos and sing on our praise team, voice prayers in small groups, lead prayer on Wednesday nights, and make Wednesday night devotional talks. We sing both accapella and instrumental, but more instrumental. We have long been considered the more progressive and non-traditional church of Christ in our area.
Highland Church of Christ Abilene, Texas Jonathan Storment, preaching minister
Highland Church of Christ is not totally inclusive at this time but it does have several women ministers on staff and women are utilized in the worship.
new listing on 05/16/11:
Heights Church of Christ Houston, TX Dr. Lynn Mitchell, minister.
A Church of Christ that is fully egalitarian and gender inclusive.
Mercy Street Church of Christ Abilene, Texas.
The Mercy Street Church of Christ is a new church planting that is a multi-racial, multi-cultural, gender-inclusive Church of Christ. Read about this Church of Christ in an article published by the ReporterNews.com, an online news site for Abilene, Texas.
Plymouth Park Church of Christ Irving, Texas John Ketchersid, minister
An ecumenical, gender-inclusive, kingdom-centered body of Christians serving the city of Irving, TX. This congregation is fully gender inclusive at all levels of service, ministry, and leadership.
Southwest Central Church of Christ, Houston, Texas.
A gender inclusive church where women are utilized in both the worship and on ministry teams. However, women are not included in the church leadership at this time. Steve Sandifer, the Pastoral Care Minister, has published a book documenting the development of the deaconate from pre-New Testament times to the present. The book is titled Deacons- Male and Female.
Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, San Antonio, Texas.
This information was received from an active member of the congregation and not from their website. After much prayerful discussion, Sunset Ridge Church of Christ made the shift to being a gender inclusive church in 1997. Women have active roles in teaching, ministry, prayer, communion and otherwise. However, women are not included in the church leadership at this time.