shadow shadow About Us

About Us

The Garden is an innovative worship experience that draws upon relevant multi-media sources to convey a welcoming theology. At our core is the belief that God’s unconditional love is for all people. The Garden is an authentic, inclusive environment where every Sunday one will find a fresh perspective on faith. The Garden is progressive church for the 21st century.

Who We Are

We are part of the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church family and follow in the practice of theology that honors Bible, tradition, experience and reason. Our services are designed to nurture the individual’s faith journey.

Now and Into the Future

At its heart, The Garden is an alternative voice to the conservative faith rhetoric that pervades the culture.  With its open, inclusive theology, The Garden is a leader of a forward-thinking movement, which encourages people to experience the holy in all of life, not just through the traditional format known as “church.” Those who experience The Garden find connection through common values more than through common beliefs. The Garden is spiritual not religious, accepting not judgmental, seeking not certain, inclusive not exclusive, up-to-date not limited by the past, and succeeds in blurring the lines between the sacred and secular. Those who are connected with The Garden are empowered and encouraged to think for themselves and to be wherever they are in their own life/spiritual journey with any expectation of a pre-determined or set destination.

The Garden welcomes everyone regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, and affirms the dignity, worth and value of every person, emphasizing that we are loved and accepted just as we are.  The Garden believes all faith paths enrich our world and lead to relationship with the same Creator. The Garden calls forth the best in ourselves and others, helps people find purpose and meaning in life, and encourages the well-being and wholeness of all creation.

The way The Garden fosters this spirit is through the following: Physical gatherings in secular locations such as coffee shops, wine bars, private homes, theaters, banquet halls, restaurants and yet to be named venues, which are inspiring, relevant and hopeful, and which engage people through the use of culturally-relevant media, such as movies, popular music, literature and more; Virtual opportunities such as The Bluevine Collective, webinars, blogs, spiritual growth options such as “What I Really Believe,” online classes and discussions; Intentional partnerships with open-minded individuals (such as Phil Gulley, Marcus Borg, Karen Armstrong, John Shelby Spong) and corporate and non-profit entities (such as NPR, Fetzer Foundation, Lilly Endowment and others) f9or the purpose of spreading this open and inclusive message.

The Garden encourages people on their spiritual/life journey, envisions transformed people who embrace life, others and creation with kindness and compassion, and works for the common good of all, ultimately creating a just, compassionate and peaceful world.

 

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