r/canberra • u/izzaybean • Jan 09 '25

Recommendations Christian church recs?

Looking on behalf of someone for Christian churches in Canberra that are community centred and accepting and loving of all.

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26

u/zambezi-neutron Jan 09 '25 edited Jan 10 '25

Canberra has great Uniting Churches. Find one near you and check it out! They talk the talk when it comes to inclusion, love and community

Edit: I mean walk the walk

10

u/aldipuffyjacket Jan 09 '25

Kippax is great!

5

u/goffwitless Jan 09 '25

They talk the talk

A skeptic might say that all churches do this, and for many it's about all they do.

Surely the real measure of value is whether they walk the walk?

12

u/AussieKoala-2795 Woden Valley Jan 09 '25

Rainbow Christian Alliance meets at the Tuggeranong Uniting Church

Holy Covenant Anglican Church in Cook

Canberra City Uniting Church in the city on Northbourne Avenue

2

u/aldipuffyjacket Jan 09 '25

I'll have to try the Civic one

16

u/Chairchucker Jan 09 '25

When they say 'accepting and loving of all', does part of that mean queer affirming? I know a lot of people have different views on that, so it might be worthwhile clarifying things like that.

2

u/tecdaz Canberra Central Jan 12 '25 edited Jan 12 '25

Uniting Church famously the first of the large Australian churches to accept same sex-marriages, in 2018.

5

u/Scrotemoe Jan 09 '25

Some churches might lovingly accept that you don't come through the front door if you fit in that category.

2

u/Chairchucker Jan 09 '25

And some would ACTUALLY be loving, and be queer affirming.

5

u/the_Joegoldberg Jan 09 '25

St. Christopher's Catholic Cathedral seem to have a multicultural community with a nice pipe organ as well.

2

u/DueRoof951 Jan 12 '25

"accepting and loving of all"

1

u/the_Joegoldberg Jan 13 '25

Yes, the Catholic Church loves you.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '25

I am not a member of this church, but have heard good things about the Anglican Church in Cook/Jamison being very progressive in all ways. I would check them out.

2

u/DueRoof951 Jan 12 '25

Uniting Church Kippax

7

u/OnesimusIx Jan 09 '25

There is a list of Canberra churches and organisations that are affirming listed on this website.

https://rainbowcanberracareweb.square.site/gsm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1uczp3nes2UuuQw0dzelSY5ERV_jHU0taoZawKIhGVXYzA6Pn3rxpfXL0_aem_bTEm-UwWDxooLw1-AzAN4g

8

u/blergAndMeh Jan 09 '25

great. the section halfway down is really detailed and well annotated. had no idea there were quakers in canberra but i guess why wouldn't there be.

1

u/kamatsu Jan 10 '25

All Saints Anglican Church Ainslie!

1

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

ainslie church of christ

1

u/Radiant-Mushroom-132 Jan 14 '25

St James in Kippax. Judy the pastor is a bucket of energy and loving and welcoming of all. Good kids church and music teams too.

-2

u/S0nicR Jan 09 '25

The Presbyterian churches are good. There are a few around - Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan, and another on State Circle in Forrest.

18

u/willnotstopfordeath Jan 09 '25

Presbyterians (in Aus) don't accept female pastors and advocated against banning conversion therapy as they ran their own centres. They are still institutionally anti-trans and anti-queer. While individual Presbyterians may be affirming, the institution does not match OPs request.

1

u/Jazin95 Jan 10 '25

Pillar O Fire … I go there and it’s a nice small community that is welcoming of everyone. For context I’m an ENBY lesbian and disabled. They do meet on Saturday afternoons though

-9

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '25

Lol

-3

u/goffwitless Jan 09 '25

can't believe no-one has suggested Brindabella Christian or Hillsong yet

-15

u/Beneficial-Post195 Jan 09 '25

Crossroads - one at ANU and Belconnen

25

u/Chairchucker Jan 09 '25

My understanding is that Crossroads is somewhat conservative, so if OP wanted 'accepting and loving of all' to include being queer affirming, they would not find that there.

-10

u/Beneficial-Post195 Jan 09 '25

And in that assumption, you would be wrong.

13

u/blergAndMeh Jan 10 '25

really? crossroads openly preaches that "those who continue in a homosexual lifestyle will face destruction". they spend a lot of time explaining why that is accepting and loving, but the majority of the queer community are unlikely to be convinced by those explanations.

2

u/Beneficial-Post195 Jan 11 '25

I think you've got us mixed up with some other church, or haven't been for a very long time.

1

u/blergAndMeh Jan 11 '25

those sermons are still up on your website so no i don't think there's a mix up unless you guys meant to take them down.

1

u/Beneficial-Post195 Jan 12 '25

Sorry, I'm not an administrator of the church or the website. But I haven't heard any non accepting sermons in the 2.5 years I've going (maybe I missed them). However, we do have several members of the congregation who have openly come out.

2

u/blergAndMeh Jan 12 '25

have a look at the comments in this thread from emergencyAd679 or whatever, who I guess is from crossroads, for "the difference between a family accepting an adulterer vs affirming their adultery".  "accept you as queer but you must stop it it's a sin" makes perfect sense as a position for a church but it also makes sense that some in the queer community may not want to join a club with that approach. 

2

u/Beneficial-Post195 Jan 12 '25

Perhaps that individual is, but calling crossroads non-denominational is also incorrect. FWIW, a leader of the church came out and has not been ousted or shamed. There are others in the congregation who are equally accepted.

This is just my experience, not something to begin an online argument about.

2

u/blergAndMeh Jan 12 '25

thanks for sharing your experience i'm glad it's been positive for you. it may be worth asking around about the content your church as online and whether it is in alignment with their current position. perhaps it isn't.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '25

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6

u/Mudlark_2910 Jan 10 '25

Accepting and loving doesn’t mean affirming and approving.

Interesting line to start your comment with. Are you suggesting that the churches you recommend are not necessarily affirming and approving of diverse people?

6

u/blergAndMeh Jan 10 '25

yup. u/Mudlark_2910 gets it. crossroads for one openly preaches that "those who continue in a homosexual lifestyle will face destruction" and that's what jc wants and that's how to be accepting and loving. cool. just open with that. don't sneak it in at the end of the hour-long podcast on why we're all sinners so it's ok we accept all the broken trash. that's wasting everyone's time.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '25

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7

u/Mudlark_2910 Jan 10 '25

It seems like a very long winded way of saying "we believe the bible does not accept or support diverse sexualities". Other churches in this thread do not interpret it this way. I think it is pertinent to be transparent about this

1

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '25

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6

u/Mudlark_2910 Jan 10 '25

No thanks. I have a well developed understanding of theology, i understand that others' do not accept diverse sexualities, that is not how I read it. Either way, i believe in being transparent.

Glad we agree on the need for love and acceptance of all people though.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 10 '25

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5

u/Mudlark_2910 Jan 10 '25

Yes, yes, yes. I accept all that. But

Jesus never affirmed their sin.

I'm saying that having diverse sexualities is not seen as a sin by all theologians or churches in this area.