Churches that do it right, example #1

This article is particularly intended to outrage mainstream protestant clergy in the Northeast.

To most of them, the idea that young people should be permitted to do ANYTHING physical at church is anathema (hope I spelled that right), and that if they do happen to be permitted to do something physical, that the activity could possibly be COMPETITIVE is somewhere beyond anathema.

Starting with this post, I'll provide some cases of churches that do it right (I've already said a little about the Methodist Church of Liberty, NY -- sorry they do not have a website, although they do have a gymnasium).

The next example is the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Please take this link to view the main page of their youth group on their church website.

Yes, I mean it. Please DO look at that page, and do it now. (There will be a quiz.)

Have you looked yet?

Really, please look before we go on. I'll wait.

Okay, I understand that "Cumberland Presbyterian" is a little on the edge of mainstream protestantism.

However, I will say that I know a little about this particular congregation because my wife grew up in it. She's fond of referring to them as "the high church Anglican Cumberland Presbyterians" -- they have a magnificent structure, a three manual pipe organ that can blow you through the (masonry -- wife's father was also the masonry contractor for this job) back wall, and lots of other "stuff" that would work pretty well in most mainstream protestant denominations.

You can read about their main worship space here.

And they have a six lane Olympic swimming pool, as well as lighted tennis courts, and a playground.

"Yes, but that's down South!"

And so it is. But, in a city with a church on virtually every corner, these folks seat 1000 in their sanctuary, and come pretty close to filling it regularly.

So, mainstream protestant clergy in the northeast, can YOU do that?

Of course you can't.