Watermark Community Church

Last updated
Watermark Community Church
Location Dallas, Texas
CountryUnited States
Denomination Nondenominational
Weekly attendance9,000
Website www.watermark.org
History
FoundedNovember 7, 1999

Watermark Community Church is a nondenominational evangelical megachurch based in Dallas, Texas.

Contents

Watermark was founded in November 7, 1999 with an outward-focused ministry that sought to minister to "the unchurched, dechurched, dead-churched and unmoved." [1]

Watermark averages about 9,000 weekly attendants. The Porch is a weekly young adult service that attracts between 3,000 and 4,000 attendants each Tuesday night. [2]

Watermark is well known for its "Re:generation recovery" program. This is a 12-Step Christ-Centered recovery that is devoted to helping people find freedom from all struggles, including: anxiety/depression, pornography, fear, control, substance abuse, codependency, sexual abuse, same-sex attraction, eating disorders/body image, anger, obsessive thoughts, as well as any other struggle.

In April of 2021 founder Todd Wagner stepped down as Senior Pastor of Watermark. [3]

Church properties

Watermark Community Church has launched several new campuses over the last two decade, with the intention that these satellite campuses would eventually form into fully-functional independent churches.

Frisco

Watermark Frisco launched on July 7, 2019 and meets at Frisco High School in Frisco, TX. [4]

In partnership with Centennial Community Church, Watermark Frisco launched as Onward Community Church to serve the Frisco community on September 12, 2021.

Fort Worth

A former campus in Fort Worth became an independent congregation on July 1, 2020 and maintains the name Watermark Fort Worth. [5]

Plano

In 2014 Todd Wagner made a public announcement that the church was looking to expand to Plano. [6] He further stated that the property they wished to purchase would cost $9.5 million. [6] The Plano campus formally launched as an independent campus, CityBridge Community Church, on January 1, 2021. [7]

Dallas

In 2015 it was announced that Watermark had the opportunity to purchase the second of two tower blocks adjacent to the main campus. [8] The purchase was to be for $19 million, with $15 million needed as of October 10, 2015. [8] As of 2016, Watermark has purchased an 8 year lease with plans to purchase the tower after the lease expires.

As of 2015 the Dallas Campus property was valued at $69.8 million. [9] [10]

In 2020 Watermark purchased the former Pearl C. Anderson Middle School property in South Dallas from the Dallas Independent School District for $211,000 in a public sale, an action which has upset church leaders in the community. Watermark intends to provide community services in the area, such as health care, job placement, and personal recovery. [11]

Doctrinal Positions

Watermark's full doctrinal statement is publicly available. [12] Its official doctrinal position is consistent with evangelical, dispensationalist churches. A selected summary is given here.

Watermark is an elder-governed church. [20]

Criticism

Membership

Under Watermark's governing documents, the church leadership may exercise "church discipline" up to and including terminating membership. [21] Watermark's exercise of this clause has been criticized on at least one reported occasion:

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References

  1. ↑ "Name & History - Watermark Community Church". Watermark.
  2. ↑ "How innovative ministries are bringing millennials back to church". www.christianpost.com. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  3. ↑ "Leadership Update". www.watermark.org. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  4. ↑ Ucles, Elizabeth (2019-07-03). "Watermark Community Church opening new space in Frisco". impact. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  5. ↑ "Fort Worth Update". 22 September 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Some Next Steps For Watermark Church And How You Can Get Involved". Watermark. 15 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Our Story". CityBridge. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  8. 1 2 "We're Making Room for Making Disciples FAQ - Watermark Community Church". Watermark.
  9. ↑ "Commercial Account Details". www.dallascad.org.
  10. ↑ Because the property is now tax-exempt, the Dallas Central Appraisal District has no current information on its market value.
  11. ↑ "Watermark megachurch buys middle school building in South Dallas". December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement | Watermark Community Church".
  13. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 1, "The Bible", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  14. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 2, "The Trinity", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  15. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 4, "The Holy Spirit", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  16. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 8, "Sanctification", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  17. 1 2 "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 9, "The Church", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  18. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 10, "The Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  19. ↑ "Full Doctrinal Statement", Section 11, "The End Times", https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement
  20. ↑ "Governance | Watermark Community Church".
  21. ↑ "Governance:", Section 4, "Care and Correction of Participatory Members", https://www.watermark.org/about/beliefs/governance
  22. ↑ Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff. "When Church Discipline Goes Really Public".

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