Choices In Churches Area Houses Of Worship Are Diverse
Nancy Warman, pastoral associate at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 8 N. Laurel St., said: "Take your time and go to a number of different churches. Keep looking until you feel comfortable."
Think about the type of service you want, she added. In the Episcopal Church that means a high or a low service. Small churches often are more close-knit, while larger churches often are more diversified.
People also need to consider their special interests and whether they are reflected in the church's ministry. "Some people come to Grace and Holy Trinity because we have a good, highly professional choir," Warman said.
Selecting a place of worship can be difficult. But with about 1,000 houses of worship in the Richmond area, there is something for everyone. There are large congregations and small congregations. Some of their buildings are old and historic. Others are new and modern.
There also is a lot of diversity. There are synagogues and mosques as well as Catholic and Protestant denominations. In addition, the area is home to a number of ethnic churches.
If a person has been involved in a certain denomination, consider congregations in that tradition first, suggested Dr. William A. dePrater, pastor of Overbrook Presbyterian Church at 2605 Dumbarton Road.
"Look at congregations that you feel comfortable with. Go to worship and attend Sunday school for a couple weeks before deciding," he said. "We have a feeling whether something feels right or not. If it doesn't feel right, then look at some more."
"Ask yourself: Do you feel you are part of the community? Do you feel welcome? Are you comfortable with the music and the way the service is conducted?" dePrater said.
Sometimes people will select a church because it reminds them of a church from the past, he added. "One of my daughters chose a church because it reminded her of a congregation she was part of in college."
The Rev. David Phillips, associate pastor of Monument Heights Baptist Church at 5716 Monument Ave., finds people no longer look for a church by denomination. They look for things that have a direct impact on their life.
"A family with young children often look for ministries and programs that appeal to young children. A family with teen-agers would look for a church with a good youth program. People with a special interest in music or other performing arts, look for a church with that. Others may look for a more traditional worship similar to what they grew up with," he said.
Monument Heights gets several calls a week from people asking about the church's programs, Phillips said. "Most callers ask if we have a contemporary service and contemporary music. . . . They are looking for something new and different from what they have had."
A church should be exciting and fun, said the Rev. Joseph R. Anderson, pastor of Stratford Hills United Methodist Church at 7740 Cherokee Road.
Some people want a church where they can sit down and be comfortable, he said. Others want a church where they can be challenged and grow.
"There are so many wonderful churches around," he said. "People have to look at what they want as far as ministry. Many people want opportunities to be in ministry."
Stratford Hills has a prison ministry, Anderson said. "People come here if they have a heart for prison ministry. They are looking for a place to plug in where they can serve."
He added: "Choose a church where you can give of yourself. That also makes you feel a part of the church. If you are just a receiver, you won't feel a part."
Religious Denominations
This is a list of telephone numbers for some of the religious persuasions (space does not permit listing in dividual churches) that are available in Richmond:
Anglican Catholic Church........................................358-5231 African Methodist Episcopal Hood Temple.........................643-8157 American Apostolic..............................................282-3818 Assemblies of God...............................................740-7042 Baha'i Faith....................................................378-3399 Baptist General Convention......................................228-2421 Brethren........................................................288-6439 Catholic Diocese of Richmond....................................359-5661 Chinese Baptist Church of Richmond..............................745-0709 Christian (Disciples of Christ).................................359-3509 Christian and Missionary Alliance...............................270-0440 Christian Methodist Episcopal...................................232-5680 Christian Science...............................................353-1065 Church of Christ................................................321-2479 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.....................330-9620 Congregation Beth Ahabah (Reform)...............................358-6757 Congregation Or Ami (Reform)....................................272-0017 Congregation Or Atid (Conservative).............................740-4747 Congregation Christian..........................................276-5338 Eastern Orthodox................................................798-3799 Eckankar Center.................................................378-7815 Ekoji Buddhist Sangha...........................................355-6657 Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia....................(800) 582-8292 Episcopal Diocese of Virginia...................................643-8451 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America..........................355-9185 Faith Landmarks Ministries......................................262-7104 Free Will Baptist...............................................270-9463 Greek Orthodox..................................................355-3687 Hindu Center....................................................346-9954 Holiness, Cathedral of Life.....................................230-6133 Islam Islamic Center of Virginia................................320-7333 Masjid Bilal....................................................222-9825 Jehovah's Witnesses, Richmond Assembly Hall.....................233-0265 Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue (Orthodox).......................288-7953 Lubavitch Center................................................740-2000 Lutheran Church Missouri Synod..................................222-5416 Wisconsin Synod.................................................744-8869 Maronite........................................................270-7234 First Mennonite.................................................359-1340 Nazarene........................................................746-0335 New Covenant Presbyterian.......................................743-8163 Orthodox Church in America......................................288-9363 Presbytery of the James.........................................262-2074 Pure Land Buddhism..............................................355-6657 Reformed Presbyterian Church in America.........................272-8111 Richmond Baptist Association....................................329-1701 Richmond Buddhist Association...................................672-7167 Richmond District of Va. United Methodist Conference............359-7313 Richmond Friends Meeting House (Quaker).........................358-6185 St. James Armenian Church.......................................282-3818 Seventh-day Adventist...........................................353-2331 Theravadan Buddhist.............................................730-3946 Temple Beth-El (Conservative)...................................355-3564 Temple of Judea.................................................780-0841 Tibetan Buddhism................................................355-6657 Tikuat Israel Messianic Congregation............................320-0624 Unitarian.......................................................355-0777 United Church of Christ.........................................358-9291 United Methodist................................................359-9451 United Pentecostal..............................................276-1105 Unity...........................................................278-6489 Virginia Baptist General Board..................................672-2100 Young Israel of Richmond-Congregation Kol Emes (Orthodox).......353-5831 Zen Buddhism....................................................355-6657
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