Sometimes people will ask me,
“What denomination is your church?
What’s your affiliation?”
And I usually say some
version of this:
We are a non-denominational or
an interdenominational church. That means
if every person at our church lined up against a wall and, then, one-by-one, stepped
forward and said his/her faith tradition, some of us would say “Catholic”, some
“Methodist”, some “Presbyterian”, some “Baptist”, some “Seventh-day Adventist”,
some “No denomination,” and even some, “agnostic.”
But I got to thinking the
other day…..That isn’t the most clear or accurate answer to the question of
affiliation. Our affiliation is not
really a label (or at least it shouldn’t be).
Our affiliation is more
clearly articulated this way:
We are affiliated with the
Roswell Firehouse every quarter when we serve them a massive and tasty lunch. Our affiliation is with Esther Jackson
Elementary School. Over the years we have tutored hundreds of
students and been able to help students and families with thousands of dollars
of needed resources. Our affiliation is with the men, women and children in Ethiopia, whom
we have had the privilege of helping fund 15 water projects!
Our affiliation is with the
servers and staff at Starbucks and Taco Mac and McAlisters Deli. Our affiliation is with the ushers at Turner Field
each summer when we buy tickets for our entire congregation. Our affiliation is with the owner and staff
of Altobeli’s restaurant, where we enjoy our Christmas brunch each
December.
Our affiliation is with the
Bible, and to following Jesus wherever he leads. Our affiliation is with living out three
realities: Everybody’s Welcome, Nobody’s Perfect, and Transformation’s Possible.
If you want to know what kind
of church we are….look around, ask around, get to know the people here. See how we care for the poor and the lonely
and the hurting. See how we grieve at
funerals and celebrate at births and anniversaries. See how we throw a party (a
Pumpkin Festival, a Trivia Night, a Kids Party). Hang out with us in small
groups. See how we love and serve and accept and pray and give and forgive and
lift up and build up and give up everything we can to the God who gave up everything
for us!
That’s a better answer to the
question!
