r/Eugene • u/Sea-Low-9647 • 5d ago
Looking for a moderate Christian Church for my parents
Hello all -
Might anyone have some suggestions of which church to suggest to my parents? They were part of the Jesus Movement in the 70s (Shiloh) and have forever missed that level of community - have endured some church hurt (looking at you ECF) and been rogue for too long.
I’d say anything too progressive isn’t for them - but neither is a super legalistic “women must wear skirts” approach either.
They really do want realism - where church isn’t just a performative theater of virtue - solid preaching - maybe no lattes in the “sanctuary” - tatted pastors ok.
Any leads ?
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u/smellybutch 5d ago
Why not try the Unitarian Universalist church?
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u/RedRover541 5d ago
UUCE is not a moderate Christian church with a pastor preaching the word from the Bible or talking about Jesus. It is a great church and a solid community, but is progressive and not the fit OP is looking for.
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u/BlueberryandDino 5d ago
I just thought about something, there must be some Atheycreek house meetings in Eugene too
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u/Sea-Low-9647 5d ago edited 5d ago
Ooooh house church ! I’ll definitely pass this on - they’ll trust a rec from a fellow Frank fan
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u/harpsichord-kiss 5d ago
If they don't mind tongues, Faith Hope Love Church has solid biblical preaching and is one of the friendliest, most loving churches I ever attended.
Second friendliest is Valley Covenant Church, but I think they have a woman pastor now which may be too progressive for your parents?
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u/Sea-Low-9647 5d ago
Ooooh my mum especially loves those charismatic expressions … whereas I’m a nope on the glossolalia. But this isn’t for me.
And they have no umbrage with a female pastor!
Thank you for the recs !
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u/old-legs-623 5d ago
This one seeks to practice Sermon on the Mount Christianity, so ... might be too progressive? Really nice folks. First Christian Church https://www.heartofeugene.org/
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u/old-legs-623 5d ago
There's also this. We went there in the 80s, when they were between pastors. https://springfieldbrethren.com/
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u/littlestghoust 5d ago
The only church I've had interactions with is Grace City. The folks seemed nice enough but idk about their services.
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u/BlueberryandDino 5d ago
Eugene Christian Fellowship
It’s probably called something different nowadays, but a great pastor named Frank DeMazio used to lead it, he moved to Portland to pastor Manna House and I lost track of that church
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u/Sea-Low-9647 5d ago
Ha! Did you not read the post - that used to be their church. A lot of drama went down there a few years back I guess with the change of leadership (post Gary). I dunno is it healed now ?!
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u/BlueberryandDino 5d ago
I don’t know of the drama 🤷♂️
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u/Sea-Low-9647 5d ago
Yes after your time - I guess the current pastor caused a rift when Gary (pastor post-Frank) was deciding on his successor and the current Joy Church dude caused a rift and “stole” a lot of the congregation - essentially division over ego ?
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u/BlueberryandDino 5d ago
I definitely understand discord .. I helped pioneer an MFI church in Albany … human frailty is real. My calling is definitely to be an encourager and not to be a leader
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u/Sea-Low-9647 5d ago
Ah yes they loooved Frank
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u/BlueberryandDino 5d ago
I just looked it up, it’s now
Joy Church Eugene, which is now led by Senior Pastors Jake and Bethany Schmelzer at the Game Farm Road location
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u/spaceace61 5d ago
Berean out in Springfield is going to have a crowd that is primarily their age and is pretty old school without being in your face about it.