GracePointe Church

Last updated

GracePointe Church is a non-denominational evangelical church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Established in 2003 in Williamson County, the church received attention in 2015 after allowing LGBTQ people to become full members of the church. Following a drop in attendance and revenue, GracePointe moved to a rented venue in Nashville in 2017.

Contents

History

GracePointe was founded in Williamson County in 2003 by Stan Mitchell. [1]

In 2015, GracePointe extended full membership privileges to LGBTQ people. Previously, members of the church who were not heterosexual could not be on the church board or lead worship services or other church groups. LGBTQ members could be baptized and receive communion but were unable to get married or have their children dedicated in church. Following the changes in 2015, these restrictions were lifted. The church was one of the first evangelical megachurches in the US to openly support full equality for LGBTQ people. [2] Within two months of this announcement, six out of the church's twelve board members had left; average weekly attendance, previously between 800 and 1000, dropped by a third, and the average offering dropped by half. [3]

As a result of falling revenue, connected to their change in stance on LGBTQ issues, GracePointe sold its building to another evangelical church in 2017 and relocated to Nashville. [4] [5] Mitchell later said in a 2017 interview that he felt he should have given the church more input in the decision to change its stance on LGBTQ membership. [6] In 2019, Stan Mitchell stepped down as lead pastor of the church and was replaced by Josh Scott. [7]

Beliefs

GracePointe advocates a version of progressive Christianity, which believes that the teachings of the Bible should be applied to the modern world by reinterpreting and re-examining historical teachings which reflect the time in which they were written. This includes acceptance towards LGBTQ people and same-sex relationships, [5] as well as being willing to draw from sources of wisdom and spirituality from outside Christian teachings and trying to create an inclusive community. [1]

In 2021, Josh Scott taught in a sermon that Christians should not think of the Bible as the word of God but rather see it as "a product of community, a library of texts, multi-vocal, a human response to God, living and dynamic." Subsequently, the church posted a summary of the sermon on Facebook which received mostly negative reactions from those who engaged with it. Scott expressed his surprise at the strength of the reaction to his sermon but responded by defending his position, arguing that some of the Bible's content includes material that contradicts the character of God. [8]

Related Research Articles

To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by the operation of the Holy Spirit, and it occurs when one is baptized in water. It is a core doctrine of the denominations of the Anabaptist, Moravian, Methodist, Baptist, Plymouth Brethren and Pentecostal Churches along with all other evangelical Christian denominations. All of these Churches strongly believe Jesus's words in the Gospels: "You must be born again before you can see, or enter, the Kingdom of Heaven". Their doctrines also mandate that to be both "born again" and "saved", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on sexual orientation and homosexuality. The view that various Bible passages speak of homosexuality as immoral or sinful emerged in the first millennium AD, and has since become entrenched in many Christian denominations through church doctrine and the wording of various translations of the Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Methodist Church</span> Mainline Protestant denomination based in the US

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelicalism. The present denomination was founded in 1968 in Dallas, Texas, by union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley in England, as well as the Great Awakening in the United States. As such, the church's theological orientation is decidedly Wesleyan. It embraces liturgical worship, holiness, and evangelical elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Grudem</span> American theologian and author

Wayne A. Grudem is a New Testament scholar turned theologian, seminary professor, and author. Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, Arizona.

Biblical infallibility is the belief that what the Bible says regarding matters of faith and Christian practice is wholly useful and true. It is the "belief that the Bible is completely trustworthy as a guide to salvation and the life of faith and will not fail to accomplish its purpose."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John MacArthur (American pastor)</span> American Reformed Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author (born 1939)

John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. is an American pastor and author who hosts the national Christian radio and television program Grace to You. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. He is currently the chancellor emeritus of The Master's University in Santa Clarita and The Master's Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood</span> Evangelical Christian organization

The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) is an evangelical Christian organization promoting a complementarian view of gender issues. According to its website, the "mission of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is to set forth the teachings of the Bible about the complementary differences between men and women, created equally in the image of God, because these teachings are essential for obedience to Scripture and for the health of the family and the church." CBMW's current president is Dr. Denny Burk, a professor of biblical studies at Boyce College and director for The Center for Gospel and Culture at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Its 2017 "Nashville Statement" was criticized by egalitarian Christians and LGBT campaigners, as well as by several conservative religious figures.

Bryan Chapell is an American pastor and theologian who currently serves as the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in America. He was previously the senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois. Prior to that he was president and chancellor of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri for twenty years. Chapell is also an author, lecturer, and conference speaker specializing in homiletics. He served as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in America in 2014.

Free grace theology is a Christian soteriological view which holds that the only condition of salvation is faith, excluding good works and perseverance, holding to eternal security. Free Grace advocates believe that good works are not the condition to merit, to maintain, or to prove salvation, but rather are part of discipleship and the basis for receiving eternal rewards. This soteriological view distinguishes between salvation and discipleship – the call to believe in Christ as Savior and to receive the gift of eternal life, and the call to follow Christ and become an obedient disciple, respectively. Free grace theologians emphasize the absolute freeness of salvation and the possibility of full assurance that is not grounded upon personal performance. Norman Geisler has divided this view into a moderate form and a more radical form. The moderate form being associated with Charles Ryrie, and the more strong form with Zane Hodges.

Methodist viewpoints concerning homosexuality are diverse because there is no one denomination which represents all Methodists. The World Methodist Council, which represents most Methodist denominations, has no official statements regarding sexuality. British Methodism holds a variety of views, and permits ministers to bless same-gender marriages. United Methodism, which covers the United States, the Philippines, parts of Africa, and parts of Europe, concentrates on the position that the same-sex relations are incompatible with "Christian teaching", but extends ministry to persons of a homosexual orientation, holding that all individuals are of sacred worth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Dockery</span>

David Samuel Dockery is the President of the International Alliance for Christian Education. He is also Distinguished Professor of Theology and on April 19, 2023 was elected the 10th President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Formerly he served as Trinity International University's 15th president. He was elected to that presidency on February 28, 2014.

Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within Protestant Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal relationship with God and experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Pentecostalism was established in Kerala, India at the start of the 20th century.

Thomas R. Schreiner is an American Reformed Baptist New Testament and Pauline scholar. He is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously taught at Bethel University and Azusa Pacific University. He is also co-chairman of the Christian Standard Bible's Translation Oversight Committee and is the New Testament editor of the ESV Study Bible. Schreiner has degrees from Western Oregon University, Western Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity and transgender people</span> Attitude of Christians toward gender identity and transgender people

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on the issues of gender identity and transgender people. Christian denominations vary in their official position: some explicitly support gender transition, some oppose it, and others are divided or have not taken an official stance. Within any given denomination, individual members may or may not endorse the official views of their church on the topic.

Brandan Robertson is a gay writer, activist, minister, and TikTok religious influencer. He has written on the subjects of millennials, social justice, and Progressive Christianity, and he is an LGBTQ activist. Robertson serves as the Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in Queens, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Evangelical Network</span>

The Evangelical Network (TEN), now known as Affirming Christian Fellowship (ACF), is an association of Christian and Evangelical ministries that are a part of and are affirming to the LGBTQ community. The organization's website describes its focus in a mission statement including the following goals:

The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee. The Statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female". The Statement sets forth the signatories' opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication. It was criticized by egalitarian Christians and LGBT activists, and several conservative religious figures.

The New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement is an association of conservative, King James Only, independent Baptist churches. The New IFB began with Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in response to perceived liberalism in other independent Baptist churches. The New IFB does not consider itself to be a denomination. As of 2019, the New IFB listed 32 affiliated congregations on its website, most in the U.S. with some in Australia, Canada, the Philippines and South Africa.

Evangelical theology is the teaching and doctrine that relates to spiritual matters in evangelical Christianity and a Christian theology. The main points concern the place of the Bible, the Trinity, worship, Salvation, sanctification, charity, evangelism and the end of time.

References

  1. 1 2 "Our Story". GracePointe Church. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ Dias, Elizabeth (January 29, 2015). "Nashville Evangelical Church Comes Out for Marriage Equality". Time . Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ Hall, Heidi (March 3, 2015). "As one evangelical church 'comes out' for LGBT rights, others cast a wary eye". Religion News Service. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ Adams, Liam; Villena, Cole (September 1, 2022). "Williamson County, the suburban 'new frontier' for American evangelical Christianity". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Stan Mitchell and GracePointe Church are paying the price for being inclusive, and also discovering who they really are inside". OutVoices. September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ Gryboski, Michael (November 17, 2017). "Progressive Evangelical Pastor Says He Shouldn't Have Imposed His Pro-LGBT Announcement on Church". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ "About Us". GracePointe Church. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ Blair, Leonardo (February 18, 2021). "Nashville church says Bible isn't the Word of God, then draws ire". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

35°57′55″N86°50′05″W / 35.96528°N 86.83472°W / 35.96528; -86.83472

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.