The Chosen Few: Favorite Churches

We worship these urban temples for their diversity and tolerance

For one reason or another, we like the following churches, temples and synagogues. We can't always tell you exactly why. We just do.

Many cater to the sensitivities of the CityBeat audience. Some enthusiastically welcome same-sex singles and couples. A few feature women as senior clerics. Most embrace social justice missions and actively seek remedies to urban poverty.

All encourage a diversity among members of their congregations, preaching a message of inclusiveness. Not one is likely to shut the door on you just because you don't happen to belong to a particular denomination.

Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church

Here's a church that welcomes all lifestyles - to the point the congregation officially adopted an open-door policy in 1991 (interestingly, church membership has doubled since the change). If you're new to the city or new to religion, you might want to check out the place, led by the Rev. Stephen Van Kulken.

The church has held a number of gay weddings, even though the national Presbyterian Church forbids such ceremonies. And the Rev. Hal Porter, pastor emeritus, has launched a public campaign urging the State of Ohio to legalize same-sex marriage.

Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 Wm. Howard Taft Road, Mount Auburn, 513-281-5945.

Christ Church Cathedral

This Episcopal church has surprised some for its aggressive advertising campaign, which includes an ad featuring a picture of an altar with the headline: "This Is Where Women Stand in Our Church" (a reference to the church ordaining women priests).

Beyond gender issues, Christ Church is a leader in local racial, literacy and social justice issues. Little surprise: The cathedral is led by the Rt. Rev. Herbert Thompson, an African-American bishop who's championed social justice issues to the point that both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Anglican Church's top gun, the Archbishop of Canterbury, have stopped by for visits.

Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., Downtown, 513-621-1817.

Rockdale Temple

This synagogue does its level best to open up to the community and the non-Jew in particular. Historically, the synagogue, under the Rabbi Isaac M. Wise, served as the foundation of the Reform Judaism movement in America (last year, the leaders of the Reform movement overwhelmingly supported a resolution giving rabbis the option of performing same-sex marriages).

Rockdale offers a free program called Taste of Judaism, designed to educate the beginner, Jewish or not. This isn't a matter of a synagogue trying to recruit Christians into its fold. Rockdale speakers go out to area Christian churches, conducting Seder dinners and otherwise linking up with Christians in a free exchange of ideas and an exploration of common spiritual connections. Live and let live seems to be the message.

Rockdale Temple, 8501 Ridge Road, Amberley Village, 513-891-9900.

Metropolitan Community Church (Universal Fellowship)

Gay and lesbian couples looking for support might want to consider the Metropolitan Community Church, where the Rev. Bonnie Daniel can relate. She married a woman in 1994, and the church supports same-sex unions.

Services are at 7 p.m. Sunday, so if you're church shopping, this means you can hit another service or two Sunday morning, then head here after dinner.

Metropolitan Community Church, 5501 Hamilton Ave., College Hill/Northside, 513-681-9090.

Vineyard Community Church

It's tough to argue with success. This non-denominational church has a weekly attendance of 4,500 and several dozen pastors - in fact, it's ranked as one of the 25 fastest growing churches in the United States.

Implementing contemporary music and lively sermons, the Vineyard, led by Rev. Dave Workman, has grown from 37 people meeting in a barn to one of the largest churches in the region. Those seeking an alternative to traditional denominations might check it out.

Vineyard Community Church, 11340 Century Circle East, Tri-County, 513-671-0422.

Crossroads Community Church

Another "tough to argue with success" church is Crossroads, which has grown from zero members to 2,000 in four years. The non-denominational (correct that, the community prefers "interdenominational") congregation will soon expand from Hyde Park into a massive space - being redesigned by theme park architect Jack Rouse - at the former (and massive) HQ warehouse in Oakley.

Crossroads Community Church, 3030 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-731-7400.

St. John's Unitarian Church

One of only three churches in the city to participate in the Downtown Gay Pride Parade, St. John's, led by the Rev. L. Annie Foerster, is a well-known local lightning rod for social justice issues. The posted mission statement says it all: "Everyone Welcome: We celebrate diversity of race, age, faith, class, physical ability, gender and sexual orientation."

St. John's Unitarian Church, 302 Resor Ave., Clifton, 513-961-1938.

Walnut Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The motto of the church, "Rich in Heritage, Progressive in Vision," sends out a comforting signal. Its very location means the church centers itself around a social justice mission, something the church stresses in its messages and sermons. Led by minister Jerry Lee Murphy, the church heavily promotes its "inclusive liturgy" as well as that "men and women serve equally in church life."

Walnut Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1438 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, 513-961-4084.

First Unitarian Church

The church is known for its tolerance and early involvement in the abolitionist mission. The pastor, Rev. Sharon Dittmar, attracted headlines this year when she took a critical look at the church circa 1900, when for a period of time it was shunning African Americans. "It's one thing to say racism is bad. It's another thing to look at your role," said Dittmar, who scheduled a reconciliation Sunday service and demanded of her congregation "a recognition of collective truth and responsibility" as well as a public apology for the church's actions at the turn of the last century.

First Unitarian Church, 536 Linton St., Avondale, 513-281-1564.

St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church

This is a church doing its best to incorporate African-American traditions with the Catholic faith. St. Martin was the only local Catholic church honored as best in America in a national study, "Excellent Parishes: The Guide to Best Places and Practices."

St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 9913 Wayne Ave., Lincoln Heights, 513-544-4010.

College Hill Presbyterian

Led by the Rev. Patrick Hartsock, the church deliberately disobeys the national denomination by allowing same-sex marriages. The clergy actively participates in a program to trade pulpits, encouraging black and white, Christian and Jewish clergy to visit and exchange views in an attempt to address what has been called the most segregated hour in America, Sunday morning services.

College Hill Presbyterian, 5742 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, 513-541-5676.

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

You gotta like a church that's heavily populated with refugees from the Catholic Church (including an ex-Catholic priest) and other denominations. Pastor Henry Zorn is active in organizing a multi-denominational effort - Greater Anderson Promotes Peace (GAPP) - to target hate crimes in the area, and the church co-sponsors a summer camp and other cross-denominational events with its Episcopal and United Church of Christ neighbor congregations.

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 1950 Nagel Road, Anderson Township, 513-474-4938.