Liberal Christian Churches Crescent Hills/St. Matthews?

Hi,

My family has been attending a church, when we don't sleep in, in the Highlands area close to downtown, but that's quite a trek from Indian Hills. We'd love to find a church community in Crescent Hills, St. Matthews, or just a bit east of either. We'd like a church that's welcoming to all people and that welcomes questioning and thinking.

Any recommendations? One with an active Sunday school for parents of young children would be preferable.

- Liz

Hi,

My family has been attending a church, when we don't sleep in, in the Highlands area close to downtown, but that's quite a trek from Indian Hills. We'd love to find a church community in Crescent Hills, St. Matthews, or just a bit east of either. We'd like a church that's welcoming to all people and that welcomes questioning and thinking.

Any recommendations? One with an active Sunday school for parents of young children would be preferable.

- Liz

Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. On hwy 22 (old Brownsboro Road) across from Holiday Manor Shopping Center.

"We'd like a church that's welcoming to all people and that welcomes questioning and thinking."

Not much point in going to this church unless the above fits your criteria. Fairly small. Has (or had) practicing Catholics, Buddists, agnostics, atheists, wiccans, gays and even REPUBLICANS, as members. The pastor (Elwood Sturdevent) is great.

I went because an ex-wife wanted to go to church. Wife went away and stopped going. I really have no interest in religion but I would strongly recommend this place for what you want. And Thomas Jefferson was a Unitarian.

They have an active Sunday school for children and older youths.

[Robin Garr]

Another possibility worth a try: St. William Catholic Community, just west of Old Louisville at Hill and 13th Streets. All of your criteria (except possibly geography) fit nicely, and it's an incredibly welcoming group. Should be Googlable and listed in the phone book. Erase your preconceptions about "Catholic" before checking it out ...

Also, haven't we had a lot of talk here on the forum about a nice new community in Germantown? Sojourners? Or something? Also, isn't Highland Baptist (Pastor Joe Phelps) very highly thought of in liberal circles? Should be plenty of options among this forum!

Eliza,

Shoot, Steve beat me to it:

Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. On hwy 22 (old Brownsboro Road) across from Holiday Manor Shopping Center.

"We'd like a church that's welcoming to all people and that welcomes questioning and thinking."

Fits your description a "T". My parents are very active there and we will be attend Spring Services there on Easter Sunday. Great childcare/Sunday School program (our 3 and 14 year olds like it). FYI: They also have an excellent preschool- I have several neighbor kids who have gone there even though we live in Springhurst.

Very casual, non-traditional and welcoming. If you do go to check it out, let me know and I'll lintroduce you to my parents.

You may also want to consider Clifton Unitarian Church located behind Clifton's Pizza (Rastetter at Payne Street).
Upcoming sermons, archives, calendar and more information:
http://www.cliftonunitarian.com/opendoors.html

I have not been to Crescent Hill Baptist Church but am told it is a somewhat liberal congregation.
(Which is ironic considering the close proximity to Southern Seminary.)
The people I know who have attend services there compare it to Highland Baptist Church.
http://www.crescenthillbaptistchurch.org

My recommendation would be St. Matthew's Episcopal at 330 North Hubbard's Lane. For more info, see http://www.stmatt-ky.org. It's an extremely welcoming and liberal community, and it does offer Sunday school for children. The priest at St. Matthews encourages parishioners to question everything and is always open to discussion, and she supports people at all stages of their spiritual journey.

While it's downtown, I want to mention the other Unitarian-Universalist church in town, First Unitarian Church http://www.firstulou.org. It was founded over 175 years ago and has an interesting history and a thriving diverse membership now. The Sunday School (we call it Religious Education or RE) and music programs are especially good. Unitarians have no creeds, but we do have principles. Most of us are not Christians, but there is a Christian group.
It's about 15 minutes from Indian Hills to First U on Sunday, just take Brownsboro in to downtown, cruise down 3rd, we're right next to the Lvl Free Public Library at 4th and York. If you end up prefering the Episcopals, Calvary is right across the parking lot.