Reply #36: If you want to remain Baptist, find out if there's an American Baptist church in your area [View All]

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I once taught at a college of the American Baptist church. I was a bit apprehensive about accepting a job there, but the campus chaplain said, "No, we aren't THAT kind of Baptist."

Otherwise, it may be time for you to go "church shopping." Personally, I like Unitarian people, but since I like to have some actual religion in my religion, I could never actually be a Unitarian. I suggest trying the UCCs, the United Methodists, the ELCA Lutherans, and the Episcopalians.

There is a great deal of variation among the latter three, with some being liberal and some being conservative. You'll never know till you try. When I've gone church shopping in a new community (although I've always limited myself to Lutheran and Episcopal options), there has come a time when one parish or another just seemed right almost instantly. Once I ignored that instinct (out of some idea that I HAD to be a Lutheran, due to family traditions) and spent several miserable months because of it before I switched over the Episcopal church that I had preferred in the first place.

If you want to narrow your search, call the regional headquarters of each denomination (called a synod (sinnod) in the Lutheran church and a diocese in the Episcopal church; I don't know what the Methodists and UCC call their regional divisions) and ask which are the most liberal parishes. They'll know.

Good luck!