Church recommendation in Bethesda/NW DC

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old son recently expressed an interest in attending church. We are not Christian - but feel that this could be a very positive influence in his life. Can anyone recommend a church that we might try out - especially one that might appeal to a somewhat disillusioned young teen - who tends to question everything? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Great youth program. Good music.

[Anonymous]

Lots of people coming from various religious traditions or none love Cedar Lane Unitarian.

For a more traditional experience, the Episcopal churches St. Dunstan's, Bethesda, and St. Columba's, DC might be worth checking out. St. Columba's is huge with a well-established youth program; St. Dunstan's is smaller and the rector is a mom to teenage boys with school chaplaincy experience, which might be useful. Both would definitely welcoming questioning newcomers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Great youth program. Good music.

+1. Also, National Presbyterian Church in NW DC has an outstanding youth program.

[Anonymous]

St Alban's has a strong youth group and welcoming congregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Great youth program. Good music.

Agree. Good youth program but they do espouse a complentarian theological viewpoint which may be a dealbreaker for a lot of people who have a more egalitarian approach to gender.

[Anonymous]

Have him talk with Father James Morrison at Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda. Father James is a young priest who doesn't shy away from tough questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have him talk with Father James Morrison at Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda. Father James is a young priest who doesn't shy away from tough questions.

I think going from not a Christian household to a Catholic church might be a bit much but maybe it depends on what he is looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people coming from various religious traditions or none love Cedar Lane Unitarian.

For a more traditional experience, the Episcopal churches St. Dunstan's, Bethesda, and St. Columba's, DC might be worth checking out. St. Columba's is huge with a well-established youth program; St. Dunstan's is smaller and the rector is a mom to teenage boys with school chaplaincy experience, which might be useful. Both would definitely welcoming questioning newcomers.

+1 love St. Columba’s

[Anonymous]

St Mark's Orthodox Church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have him talk with Father James Morrison at Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda. Father James is a young priest who doesn't shy away from tough questions.

I think going from not a Christian household to a Catholic church might be a bit much but maybe it depends on what he is looking for.

suspect the catholic church needs him more than he needs the Catholic church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Great youth program. Good music.

Agree. Good youth program but they do espouse a complentarian theological viewpoint which may be a dealbreaker for a lot of people who have a more egalitarian approach to gender.

I’m sorry. Would you rephrase that in English?

It’s a great church, Op, with a fun and active youth program. Kids from many different schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people coming from various religious traditions or none love Cedar Lane Unitarian.

For a more traditional experience, the Episcopal churches St. Dunstan's, Bethesda, and St. Columba's, DC might be worth checking out. St. Columba's is huge with a well-established youth program; St. Dunstan's is smaller and the rector is a mom to teenage boys with school chaplaincy experience, which might be useful. Both would definitely welcoming questioning newcomers.

+1 love St. Columba’s

These, or St. John's Norwood on Wisconsin and Bradley, which also has a youth program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Great youth program. Good music.

Agree. Good youth program but they do espouse a complentarian theological viewpoint which may be a dealbreaker for a lot of people who have a more egalitarian approach to gender.

I’m sorry. Would you rephrase that in English?

It’s a great church, Op, with a fun and active youth program. Kids from many different schools.

I’m not the PP who wrote this but it generally means that the church believes that men should be head of the household and that women have more domestic roles. But I go there and I definitely don’t get this vibe! Maybe that’s their view as it looks in some rule book somewhere but you don’t get that vibe at all while attending!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people coming from various religious traditions or none love Cedar Lane Unitarian.

For a more traditional experience, the Episcopal churches St. Dunstan's, Bethesda, and St. Columba's, DC might be worth checking out. St. Columba's is huge with a well-established youth program; St. Dunstan's is smaller and the rector is a mom to teenage boys with school chaplaincy experience, which might be useful. Both would definitely welcoming questioning newcomers.

+1 love St. Columba’s

These, or St. John's Norwood on Wisconsin and Bradley, which also has a youth program.

+1 for St. John’s - the rector is fantastic and has very accessible make-you-think sermons.