The term “Community Church” applies to several different types of churches that have similar characteristics.

In the 1800’s, pioneers brought religious beliefs and practices as they spread westward in our nation. It was common for a relatively small community to have various denominational churches, each with 30-50 members. As some of these towns began to shrink, so did these churches. Sometimes two or three of these churches would merge, crossing denominational lines and pooling their resources, to support a single church. To avoid the uncomfortable tension of one denomination winning and others losing, an entirely new name would be used. They would become a “Community Church.”

In more recent years, “Community Church” has been applied to newly placed churches that don’t want to be identified with any particular denomination. These independent churches have various beliefs and practices. They may be charismatic or traditional, ecumenical or isolationist, contemporary or old fashioned.

The term “Community Church” can also be applied to mainstream denominational congregations that have renamed themselves in an effort to become more appealing to the unchurched and religiously disenfranchised in their area. This is called “rebranding.” Some denominational congregations in Beavercreek live have rebranded themselves in recent years. A Nazarene Church is now called “Be Hope” and a Methodist Church now calls itself “Mosaic Church.”

Unity in Community Churches is established and maintained through doctrinal compromise, not by contending for the faith (Jude 3) and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3-6). Emphasis is placed on accepting “core beliefs” while overlooking doctrinal matters that can cause contention within the group. As a result, many Community Churches have very loosely defined beliefs that allow various convictions among their members.

It can be difficult to convince a satisfied member of a Community Church to study and consider leaving. These churches are designed to attract those who are disenfranchised with traditional “Christianity” – a designation which certainly applies to churches of Christ. There may be exceptions, but as a rule members of Community Churches are not deeply interested in spiritual things. They attend where they do because it appeals to them emotionally.

However, people do leave Community Churches for various reasons. These are the people for whom we need to be searching.

Some leave because of the shallow teaching. In fact, we sometimes have visitors from neighboring denominations who state they are looking for a church that will preach and teach the Bible. A steady diet of non-offensive and non-challenging preaching can’t satisfy spiritual hunger. When you encounter someone who really desires to hear and learn God’s word, you need to tell them this is always available in the Lord’s church.

Some leave because they tire of getting lost in the numbers. While large community churches often split into smaller groups to form more intimate connections within the church family, some people long for the strong connections that are found in a smaller congregation. God designed the local church to be a body where members care for one another and bear one another’s burdens (1 Cor. 12:25-26; Gal. 6:2). We need to be ready to invite these people to the Lord’s church where they can find and share these important connections.