[Howie]

Not trying to start a debate here or anything, but I've been meaning to find a protestant church that I like in NZ. In Canada I really enjoyed the united church, but couldn't find anything like it in the US. The closest thing I found were the Quakers. I thought the Presbyterians might be close, but then discovered that they decided not to allow gay ministers, so they're out. I'm looking for a church that's open to everyone and encourages people to develop their own personal beliefs. Any suggestions?

Susan

[jo-and-jeff]

I'm not a churchgoing person, but in my opinion, in the U.S., about the "nicest" denomination in terms of loving acceptance of all individuals and of not throwing the first stone (or the second, or the third) is the Unitarian Church. I've never attended a Unitarian Church, this opinion is based on the behavior I saw from people who said they were Unitarians.

It seems that they're down here as well (http://www.unitariansofauckland.org.nz/).

Jo

[Debbie P.]

Methodists are usually pretty easy going... or that is to say I used to go to a Methodist church in London which had a gay minister with a live-in boyfriend who was completely accepted. That was London though - may be different in a small rural area of NZ!

Methodism is a typical non-conformist church, in that it focuses on individual faith and being 'saved by grace' (i.e. emphasizing the fact that you don't have to do 'good works' to be accepted by God) rather than by strict following of rituals etc. Other non-conformists such as the United Reformed may be a little more evangelical and less accepting of issues such as homosexuality... but I may be wrong about that, it's just what I've seen in the few churches I've come across.

[gil]

Hi Susan, we are baptists (traditional and not evangelical or pentecostal) so I was brwosing the NZ baptist website and came across this page of links. It may not help, but gives some interesting starting points. Hope it's useful,

http://www.baptist.org.nz/default.asp?id=51

Gil

[Marie P]

One of our neighbours is a pastor [and American] for a Babtist church ,the kids all play together .His son plays in the church youth band and so my kids wanted to see him play .So they took my 3 kids to church with them last sunday.

My kids were amazed it was nothing like the service that they are used too ,lots of singing and moving .

The people were all very friendly and welcoming ,especially the little old lady who gave Joe a kiss :wah Joe's face when he told us this :laugh .....I'm not even allowed to kiss him !!

Marie x

[jess]

I'll second jo-and-jeff. The Unitarians are the closest thing I know of to what you described, from a US perspective. They emphasize inclusiveness.

[anna_c]

Also remember you can be in a very liberal church within a conservative denomintion. In Wellington, a couple of my friends are involved in St Andrews http://standrews.org.nz/ which is a presbytarian church but definitely doesn't toe the official line, as you cantell from their website (s an example, the minister (who is a lesbian) was the leader ofthe 'Christians for Civil Unions' campaign. Ifyou contact them they may know of similarin Auckland.