Presbyterians A-Plenty, and Thoughts on Community

As my wife and I move closer and closer to a covenantal view of infant baptism, we are looking for a Presbyterian church in the area (though I have to admit that Calvin’s view makes a lot more sense than the usual Presbyterian view, which sounds really Baptist sometimes; Joel pointed out that, ironically, "Calvin would be defrocked in presbyterian churches today" because of his view of baptism). 

Like most other denominations, there are lots of different kinds of Presbys.  Here in Rochester, we’ve got one PCA church (only about 2 years old), one RPCNA church, two OPC churches, and a bunch of PCUSA churches, two of which belong to the more conservative Confessing Church movement. 

We’ve done some visiting and talked at great length about what we’re looking for.  We visited the closest of the two OPC churches, and though I am attracted to the OPC, something about that particular church didn’t sit right with me.  We spent some time in the RPCNA church (some of whose members read this blog, if I’m not mistaken).  Absolutely lovely people - we never felt like fresh meat in the church, and I’ve had a few great nights out for "Ale and Theology" with some of the guys.  The worship service is centered on covenant renewal, which I think vitally important.  I’m not sure, however, that we’ll ever be able to quite come to terms with "exclusive psalmody."  I have no issue with singing the songs, nor with singing them a capella.  I do have difficulty making it an issue that divides us, and furthermore, I think a right interpretation of music in Scripture, particularly Colossians 3:16, actually teaches the exact opposite position, i.e., that we are commanded to write and sing "new covenant hymns" about Christ (an example I think we can find in Col 1:15ff and Phil 2:5-11). 

But there’s another issue that’s driving us toward something different.  We’d consider the PCA church, for example…but it’s about 30 minutes away.  The RPCNA church is as well.  That might not seem like a very long drive at all, but I think one of the greatest weaknesses the church is experiencing right now is the lack of community.  We live in a suburb of Rochester (Chili).  The PCA church is in a different suburb, and the RPCNA in another suburb still.  Sure, it’s all Rochester.  But has anyone noticed that one of the defining factors of a suburb is that it’s a place where you can go be alone, surrounded by a bunch of other people who also want to be alone?

In other words, it’s difficult enough to establish proper communities in our own individualistic suburbs, let alone in one 30 minutes across town.  For that reason, combined with a desire to find a church that allows us to be as active as possible (and there’s no question that proximity plays a role in that), we’ve shifted our church search to looking for something right here in Chili.  We’ve tried to drop the overly-critical nature we carried into too many churches when we started our search.  We’re hopeful about one church in particular, and we’re also hopeful that we’ll be able to keep ties with folks we’ve met thus far along the way, even if we don’t end up in their churches.

This, of course, is not automatically the best choice for everyone.  I know of some families willing to travel more than an hour to be at this or that church, and they are making the best choice for their own families.  This is not a criticism of them.  It is, however, a simple assertion of what I know my family needs.

Searching for a church is no fun, really.  But the hope of being able to find real community right here in our area, worship Christ with neighbors, and reach our immediate community - well, that hope makes the journey worth it.