So What Faith

Greg Smith

Our Search for a Church 2.0 is Over! (#1798)

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photo by Greg Smith

I know quite a bit about churches. I was raised in the church, studied ministry as an undergraduate, attended seminary, and served 9 congregations.

I know far less about searching for a church to participate in as an active member.

My wife and I embarked on what I know think of as our original search for a church in March 2015 after I completed an interim ministry role and we moved from Southwest Florida to North Texas. That 70 week long search included attending worship 61 times in 36 different congregations.

In January 2018, we relocated again, moving about 40 miles Southwest. Once I completed a short-term ministry position we started searching for a church. Initially we assumed this search would be easier and faster to complete since we had learned a great deal from the earlier search and limited our search to a much smaller grouping of congregations all quite close to our home.

57 Weeks of Searching

Our search ended up taking 57 weeks, which means it was only 18.57% faster than the original. During the search I posted pictures of our visits on social media using the hashtag #ViewFromThePew and wrote ten blog posts:

Joining First Presbyterian Church

Earlier today we joined First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth (PCUSA). After visiting a number of congregations with vibrant and diverse ministries on and beyond their campuses, it became clear to us that FPC Fort Worth is doing as much or more as any local congregation to welcome newcomers, nurture disciples, and serve the community.

FPC Fort Worth is a downtown congregation that is quite large by Presbyterian standards. With around 2,000 members, the congregation is in the top 1% in this category (according to the the denomination’s 2018 summary of statistics, only 57 congregations or 0.62% have at least 1.500 members).

Rather than write a publicity piece about our new congregation, I’ll limit my remarks here to a sampling of strengths.

  • Location, location, location. As residents of downtown Fort Worth, we have sought to invest ourselves in downtown. To date, we’ve walked to church more often than we’ve driven there.
  • Theology. The pastoral staff model a big tent approach to Mainline Christianity, and the congregation includes people all across the theological spectrum. Importantly, the common language “all are welcome” is uncommonly complete and genuine.
  • People. Those we’ve met to date have been engaging, caring, and intentional about helping us find our way. The congregation has atypical age diversity with 30% of active members under age 40, 43% between 41-70, and 27% over 70 (according to 2018 statistical data reported to the PCUSA).
  • Worship. The three Sunday morning services of worship occur in three different sacred spaces at three different times. These services along with other more occasional offerings masterfully weave together the elements expected in a traditional reformed liturgy, effectively utilize the incredibly rich musical resources of congregation and choirs, and invite reflection that challenges worshippers to better know more more faithfully follow the Way of Jesus.
  • Serving the Community. In the 1980s the congregation helped found the Presbyterian Night Shelter. Currently it operates a mission outreach center in the Hemphill neighborhood that houses Worship on Wednesdays, First HAND Food and Clothing Ministry, Formula and Diapers Ministry, and the Salt & Light Dental Clinic.

Presbyterian Experiences

This is the fifth Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregation I’ve been a part of in my life. In chronological order, the five are

  1. First Presbyterian – Arlington, TX: I spent my entire childhood and my teen years in this congregation. I was confirmed, discerned a call to ministry, and preached my first sermon at FPC Arlington.
  2. First Presbyterian – Duncanville, TX: I came to this congregation as a seminarian to complete my field education. Here, in my first staff position, I learned the practical aspects of serving as a pastor of a local congregation, and developed and taught the congregation’s largest confirmation offering in many years.
  3. First Presbyterian – Naples, FL: This was the first congregation I served after completing my terminal degree, the first outside of Texas, and the first with dramatically different attendance during season compared to the rest of the year. I launched this blog.
  4. West Fork Presbyterian – Grand Prairie, TX: This is the only congregation I served on a very short-term basis. It is also the smallest congregation I’ve ever served by quite some margin.
  5. First Presbyterian – Fort Worth, TX.  While this post is the start of the story of my involvement in this congregation, it is worth noting that this new beginning comes with significant links to past experiences. At FPC Naples I reported to the Rev. Dr. Robert Bohl who served as Pastor of FPC Fort Worth from 1980-1996. At FPC Arlington the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Johnson Pense taught my confirmation classes. While I was at FPC Naples she led a course I completed in Presbyterian polity. Now retired, Dr. Pense serves an adult discipleship teacher at FPC FW.

So What?

I’m thankful for the journey of this now completed search for a church, and for the support I received all along the way. I’m certain I’ll be able to use what I learned from the two extended searches we completed in recent years in a variety of ways. And, I’m excited to explore new opportunities for serving at FPC Fort Worth.

If you are ever in the Fort Worth area and would like to worship at FPC Fort Worth, please let me know. I’d welcome the opportunity to be your guide when you visit this vibrant community of faith.

Note: We are also members of Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas.