Q: I have an infant and a five year old. We want to attend one of your worship services. What do we do with the kids?
A: Our children are always welcome and encouraged to participate with families in our worship services. We do have nursery available up through age 4 and our KidzWay worship inclusion program sets aside a little area to the rear of the sanctuary where shepherds help them worship on their own level. For more information, talk to our Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, Barb Stephenson.
Q: I would like to volunteer on Sunday mornings, do my part. What is available and who would I contact?
A: There are many opportunities for service on Sunday and other times! Please feel free to talk to one of the pastors or to Ingrid Luckenbill at the welcome center on Sunday mornings. We have developed a master list of ministry opportunities so that can find where you feel led to serve.
Q: I like to sing. What are my opportunities? I play an instrument. Is there an outlet to share my gifts? Can my teenagers sing in the chancel choir?
A: Two of our singing opportunities include the Chancel Choir that sings at the 9am Traditional worship service and rehearses Wednesdays at 7pm (contact: Nollie Moore) and the Ensemble that provides musical leadership at the 11:15am Contemporary worship service and rehearses Thursdays at 7pm (contact: Terry Overfelt). Our adult handbell choir plays regularly at the Traditional service and rehearses Wednesdays at 6pm (contact: Kathy Carson). Our youth handbell choir plays most usually at the 9 & 11:15 services and rehearses 6pm on Sunday nights (contact: Kathy Carson). The children’s choirs sing at the 9 & 11:15 services and rehearse from 10:55-11:10 on Sunday Mornings (contact: Marilyn McCreary). The youth choir sings at 9 & 11:15 services and rehearses at 5pm on Sunday nights (contact: Ellen Flottman).
If you play an instrument we have many ways to appropriately include your gifts in worship (contact: Beverly Kyriakos – Traditional, Nollie Moore – Traditional, Terry Overfelt – Contemporary, John Rawlings – Daybreak;, Nancy Miller – Bluegrass, Brian Vrbicek - CORE)
Of course we include youth in our musical groups! In fact, the intergenerational dimension of our musical groups is an important one. Simply talk to one of our directors.
Q: What are the core beliefs for Disciples of Christ?
A: To read our Disciples statement of faith and Broadway’s mission statement, click here.
Q: Is there a national website that I could visit to understand the denomination more?
A: www.Disciples.org
Q: Do you baptize or dedicate infant children?
A: We practice believer’s baptism by immersion and dedicate infants.
Q: Do you recognize infant baptism?
A: We recognize the baptisms of other traditions.
Q: When do your members enter into baptism traditionally?
A: Most typically we prepare baptismal candidates in upper elementary school. This includes a series of classes with the pastor, conversations with assigned mentors and a baptismal retreat. But in our tradition anyone may be baptized whenever they are ready to make the confession that Jesus is the Christ.
Q: How often do you serve communion?
A: Disciples celebrate the Lord’s Supper at every service every Lord’s Day.
Q: Is the table open?
A: Yes, to all who believe in Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation.
Q: Are women given positions of spiritual leadership in your church?
A: We have ordained women into the ordained ministry since the 1800s and women serve in all aspects of spiritual leadership in our congregation.
Q: What are your mission and outreach opportunities?
A: We have a vast array of service opportunities, both in the congregation, community and broader church and internationally. To see a list of our outreach and mission opportunities, click here .
Q: What is the difference in your three services?
A: The differences are mostly of style and approach, rather than substance. All of our worship gatherings include the essentials of worship: Praise, prayer, scripture, proclamation and the Lord’s Table.
That said, each worship service has its own flavor, aspects that may make it more attractive for you depending on your preferences: Click here to read about our worship services
Q: Are the sermon messages in all the services the same?
A: The basic content of the Sunday morning sermons is the same, though the delivery may be tailored to that particular worship service. The Saturday evening Bluegrass service has a different sermon theme, as does the Sunday evening CORE service.
Q: Do you have small group ministries?
A: We have many small group opportunities of different kinds. Some are year-round while others meet for a designated number of sessions. Many of our adult classes meet during our church-wide Christian education hour and a number of our small groups meet mid-week, either at the church or in homes. If you would like for information about small groups contact Ingrid Luckenbill in the church office.
We also encourage those new to our community of faith to participate in something we call the Discipleship Spectrum. This is a series of short classes usually held on Sunday mornings that provide background in Disciples thought and history, the mission of Broadway Christian Church, an assessment of your gifts for ministry. If you are interested please talk to Ingrid Luckenbill.
Q: Do you have groups for college students?
A: Yes we do. We partner with First Christian Church for Disciples on Campus and they meet every Wednesday night at 8:45 pm at Bethany Hall, an annex of First Christian Church downtown. Their gatherings include study, conversation, service and fun. They go on a major mission trip once each year. Contact Rev. Nick Larson for more information.
Q: Do you have groups for singles? Men? Women?
A: We don’t have a specialized group for singles; most of them participate directly in the many groups and ministries of the congregation. Our men and women ministries each have a retreat once a year, with other opportunities along the way.
Q: What is your main demographic?
A: We are a mixed suburban congregation with all ages represented.
Q: What is your membership total?
A: 1000, with about 500 worshipping in one of our services each Sunday.
Q: How long have you been a church?
A: Over fifty years.
Q: What time are your services?
A: First Saturday of each month 5pm in Rocheport (Bluegrass); Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. (Daybreak), 9:00 a.m. (Traditional) & 11:15 a.m.(Contemporary); Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m. (CORE).
Q: When is your Sunday School hour?
A: Our church-wide Christian education hour for all ages is at 10:10am. Our All God’s Children classes for those with disabilities are at 11:15 a.m.
Q: What is the Broadway’s stance on those of different sexual orientations and their place in the life of the congregation?
A: The Disciples of Christ does not have a set of doctrines that apply to every ethical or social issue in church and society. We do, however, have resolutions on important issues from our General Assemblies – a gathering of delegates from across the life of the church every two years – but they speak not for the church, but rather to the church; the Assembly’s actions are not binding upon congregations, but rather meant to stimulate further discussion and action. The clear sense of past Assemblies has been that we affirm all persons, including those with different sexual orientations, as children of God to be fully included in the life of the church. Broadway Christian Church does not have an official policy on this matter but our practice has always been to include all persons in every aspect of the life of the congregation.
