Center Point Church

When I first began attending Center Point, they held their services at Regal theaters in Hamburg. It definitely wasn't your typical church service. They have since moved to a storefront behind the Kroger on Richmond Rd. You can check out their website here if you are interested in attending.

They have a full praise and worship band, complete with electric guitars and drums. The music was great! The worship leader was really enthusiastic and passionate about his faith. In addition to leading worship, he delivered the message on more than one occasion.

I was greeted at the door, and the greeters remembered my name the following week. The church is made up of mostly younger attendees--college-aged or young families. There were a few families with teenagers as well. The attire is strictly casual, and most people wear jeans.

I felt welcomed at first. However, one of the vital functions of a church is to make connections, to have a fellowship. People were very friendly and welcoming. It was mostly a "Hi, how are you?" rhetorical question as opposed to really being interested in getting to know me. Most churches have Sunday School or small group options on Sunday morning. Center Point has what they call Connect groups, and you were offered these as a way to get in touch with people.

I advocate being involved with church more than once a week. I have never wanted to be a Sunday Christian. It's important that you serve as well, either at church or some other opportunity in the community. The reality is that most people are very busy with their family's activities during the week.

With that in mind, I think it is essential that a church fosters fellowship relationships during the Sunday service. At Center Point, I never felt like anyone's conversation with me went anything farther than a surface connection. I attended church several times and never felt like anyone was interested in getting to know me.

I thought when I started attending this church that it was a nondenominational church. Boy, was I wrong! I stayed after the Sunday morning service for their Intro to Center Point session. The three men on the pastoral staff led the session and talked about the history of the church, how the senior pastor chose Lexington as the location for his church plant. Personally, I think we have quite enough churches as it is!

Then came the bomb. They're part of the Southern Baptist convention. Yes, that convention. Where women are not welcome as leaders in ministry. Where divorce is not tolerated. Where homosexuality is decried as the worst sin.

I'm not one to jump to conclusions, though. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and did not ask about women in ministry in the open session. Instead, I emailed the pastor. I received a very nice, very prompt reply telling me that the church adheres to the scripture in 1 Timothy. In short, while women are welcome in leadership positions in the church, they are not welcome in pastorate positions. That was the last time I attended a service at Center Point

In essence, Center Point was not for me. I am too much of a feminist to feel comfortable attending a church where women were not treated equally. I felt a little bit like they were Baptist on the down low. They were definitely not open and honest about their Baptist doctrine. I ended up with the feeling that I was lied to the whole time I was attending.

I was actually attending with a friend at the time, and I believe my friend still attends the church. I know that my experience isn't the only one. It's just mine. I would love to hear from other people who have attended the church and might have had a different experience.