So, what's the most "liberal" Protestant church in the US?

[elperromagico]

Just out of curiosity...

[TheMightyFavog]

1. ELCA's pretty liberal. t least that's what they were like whwn I was a me

ELCA=Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

[pansypoo53219]

12. yup

grew up in LCA, one step more conservative than the ALC, til we hooked up.
as long as you avoid the Missouri and wisconsin synods.

and stay north of the mason-dixon.

[Flammable Materials]

29. I was on the other side ... mourn for my lost years!

I used to be a member of the WELS.

Then I got better!

(PS: I got excommunicated.)

:evilgrin:

EDIT: Grammar.

[Qanisqineq]

13. The ELCA church I went to as a kid was pretty liberal, too

we were taught that the Bible is mostly fables, like Aesop's fables, to teach you a lesson. And that evolution goes right along with the Bible, just don't take the "days" as literal days. I never heard anything about homosexuality or abortion being bad. I don't attend church anymore, but that pastor was just the nicest person in the world. Very normal.

[realisticphish]

14. right here man

my ELCA church even had a lesbian pastor for a long time

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Taverner]

2. Either the Unitarian or Methodists

However, many protestants won't include Unitarians as some view them as not being sufficiently Christian (they are completely non-exclusive -for example they might read the Koran or Bhagavad Gita during the service) However I like em personally.

Methodists are pretty liberal too, however there is a Southern element that is splitting the church.

[rwenos]

5. Hah! George W. Bush is a Methodist!

Although of an evangelical type -- apparently, there are Methodists and Methodists.

I'd say Unitarian/Universalist or Congregationalist.

My wife, a Congregationalist, calls it "The Church of What's Happening Now." :-)

[Poiuyt]

11. United Methodists Upset With Bush / Cheney Want Them To Repent

We, the undersigned, do hold that George W. Bush, a member of Park Hill United Methodist Church (UMC) in Dallas, Texas, and Dick Cheney (local membership unknown) are undeniably guilty of at least four chargeable offenses for lay members as listed in 2702.3 of the 2000 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. These offenses are: crime, immorality, disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The UMC, and dissemination of doctrine contrary to the established standards of doctrine of The UMC. For these offenses, we the undersigned call for an immediate and public act of repentance by the respondents. If the respondents do not reply with sincere and public repentance for their crimes, we demand that their membership in the United Methodist Church be revoked until such time that they sincerely and publicly repent.

http://chuckcurrie.blogs.com/chuck_currie/2004/10/united_methodis.html

[SarahB]

28. Methodists are a mixed bag.

I joined a Methodist church a few years back and the attitude at the time was quite liberal. Then a new pastor was brought in and everything went to conservative hell. I couldn't stomach it any longer. As of now, we're nothing. I have no energy for this stuff at the moment. Mr Belle has been going to Buddhist classes (which I think is great for him BTW) and is thinking of bringing the kids to Unitarian Services which is also fine with me. I'm not sure where I'm even at, but I'm not exactly worrying about it at the moment.

[Gaffey Duck]

3. Depends...

Mainstream Churches:

United Church of Christ (Basically, the most liberal of the Churches that in Canada form the United Church of Canada, our largest and most progressive mainline sect.)

"Radical" Churches:

Unitarian-Universalist

[rwenos]

9. Congregationalist Church is Part of UCC

Right? (I think they joined forces in the 70's.) Other members are Church of Christ and ??????

[cmd]

26. Reformed Lutheran, I think

That's what's on the cornerstone of our UCC.

[autorank]

4. Episcopal Churches outside of the south!

[Rowdyboy]

17. Pardon me, Episcopal Church-INCLUDING the south...My Mississippi

parish, in a town of 12,000 is racially and sexually inclusive. The church's membership of around 100 is about 8% gay (including the organist and the head of the "stewardship" committee).

While a few southern dioceses (and a few outside the south) chose to ignore the American church's position, my congregation is not among them.

As to the initial question, probably the Quakers are the most progressive Christian affiliation in America. I would say Unitarian Universalists but many would balk at the designation of Christian.,

[autorank]

18. My appologies. I stand corrected! Gladly

I'm in VA and they're a bit conservative here.

[Rowdyboy]

20. You are so totally forgiven, you wouldn't believe it....I'm just a librul

southern boy who is occasionally stunned that I'm treated like "real people" by my congregation (or most of them).

Virginia Episopalians would be REALLY INCREDIBLY HIGH CHURCH!!! I mean, these guys have been repeating nearly the same liturgy since 1620 (in this country).

Most of the congregation probably is related someway to the archbishop of Canterbury!

[autorank]

21. Good for your church!!!

I took my wife to a Fairfax VA Episcopal church when my daughter was born thinking the wife would agree to a baptism (as a hedge, was 21 years ago). The sermon that Sunday talked about how lucky we were to be baptized since without that we'd certainly go to Hell. Gee, thanks! I got a sharp elbow and we left immediately. My daughter remains a heathen to this day thanks to that crap head!

I am particularly proud of the American Episcopal Church for doing the sensible and right thing on the gay bishop ordination. I can't believe these jerk-off Anglicans asking American Episcopalians to apologize for causing a stir.

Again, I was wrong on the 'southern' thing but nice talking to you!

[Tsiyu]

22. Rowdyboy, You crack me up!

"High Church"

Yes, they sometimes call Episcopalians ( I was baptized and raised one) the "Frozen Chosen."

But we're also called "Whiskeypalians."

So there you go.

If I ever go back to church again, that's where I'll return. All of the glory. None of the guilt ( also known as Catholic Lite).

[OneBlueSky]

6. undoubtedly Unitarian-Universalist . . .

they're a pretty much do-your-own-thing denomination . . .

[Proud liberal Kat]

10. But I wouldn'r call them Protestant...

Maybe Unitarian-Universalist is vastly different than Unitarian, but I thought they were pretty interchangeable. Unitarian churches I have been to and am looking into don't subscribe to Christianity as a dogma whatsoever. Any underlying (or none) mainstream religion is acceptable. Majority I have met are from a Christian background (most Catholic, but I am from RI!), but many from Judaism, a few Wiccans, a few Muslim, and a good deal of Agnostic more than anything Humanists.
kathy

[OneBlueSky]

15. technically you're right . . .

although both Unitarianism and Universalism started out as Protestant denominations . . . if the poster is looking for liberal, though, this is the place to go . . .

[Bossy Monkey]

16. Moreover, they're no longer a church

It's called the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship. Sort of a church for agnostics who still feel like they ought to go someplace on Sunday and sing really bad hymns together.

Not cracking on them in any way; they're awfully awfully nice people and I enjoyed going there while I did. But it was the wrong place for me.

[Tsiyu]

23. ROFLMAO!

No more comment, and not trying to poke fun at anyone, but what a way with words you have!

[Bossy Monkey]

24. Thanks. November 3d I go back to being a professional writer n/t

[Tsiyu]

27. And I'll go back to being an unprofessional one!

Yes, the novel's coming along...just another ten years and I'll have that first draft.....:)

[rot0r_head]

7. My old Presbyterian church has lots o' lib'ruls

including the minister, who is totally awesome. Except for one crusty asshole (who gave a lovely little speech first Sunday after 9/11 about how feminists/gays/leftists/Jews are directly to blame for the tragedy) almost everyone there ranges from moderate to left. And this is in upstate NY: DARK red Bush country! Although I've heard that Presbys are more Dudly Do-right on a national level.

[SmileyBoy]

8. Presbyterians, maybe???

That is, if you're looking for a particular sect.

[DemBones DemBones]

19. The Society of Friends (Quakers) are the most liberal

but be aware that there are some conservative Friends. Liberal Friends have unstructured Meetings with silent meditation and no clergy or music (unless a member decides to sing during Meeting), while the conservatives have fairly typical Protestant services with an organ to accompany the singing of hymns, a minister, etc.
The conservative Friends are more conservative in their politics as well, not necessarily pacifist, etc.

Quakers have no outward sacraments, just "baptism of the spirit." It's bare bones Christianity with a mystical bent. Quakers typically are very involved in community and political work, too.

[pagerbear]

25. With most Protestant denominations

...there is wider difference within the denominations than among them.