Park Street Church: Difference between revisions
wikified and restored deleted citation to Boston Globe |
Alive in Christ now an affiliate of Exodus International |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Park Street Church has a strong tradition of [[missionary|missions]], [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] doctrine, and application of [[Bible|Scripture]] to [[social issue]]s. In 1816 Park Street Church joined with [[New Old South Church|Old South Church]] to form the City Mission Society, a social service society to serve Boston's urban poor. On [[July 4]], [[1829]], [[William Lloyd Garrison]] delivered his [http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=562 Address to the Colonization Society] at Park Street, making his first major public statement against [[slavery]]. The church also hosted the debut of ''America'' by [[Samuel Francis Smith]] on [[July 4]], [[1831]]. |
Park Street Church has a strong tradition of [[missionary|missions]], [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] doctrine, and application of [[Bible|Scripture]] to [[social issue]]s. In 1816 Park Street Church joined with [[New Old South Church|Old South Church]] to form the City Mission Society, a social service society to serve Boston's urban poor. On [[July 4]], [[1829]], [[William Lloyd Garrison]] delivered his [http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=562 Address to the Colonization Society] at Park Street, making his first major public statement against [[slavery]]. The church also hosted the debut of ''America'' by [[Samuel Francis Smith]] on [[July 4]], [[1831]]. |
||
After almost 200 years, the church is still engaged in current social issues. For example, Park Street Church recently helped launch a [[private school|private]] [[high school]] in [[Hyde Park, Massachusetts|Hyde Park]] to help address the educational needs of [[inner city|inner-city]] Boston (more than 70% of its students are on scholarship and more than 50% are [[minority group|minorities]]); it supports ministries for the [[homelessness|homeless]], such as Boston Rescue Mission; it partners with DayBreak and A Woman's Concern to assist women facing unwanted [[pregnancy]]; it provides free [[English language|English]] classes for [[international student]]s and [[immigrant]]s; and it provides support for those who want it in their struggle with [[homosexuality|same-sex attraction]] |
After almost 200 years, the church is still engaged in current social issues. For example, Park Street Church recently helped launch a [[private school|private]] [[high school]] in [[Hyde Park, Massachusetts|Hyde Park]] to help address the educational needs of [[inner city|inner-city]] Boston (more than 70% of its students are on scholarship and more than 50% are [[minority group|minorities]]); it supports ministries for the [[homelessness|homeless]], such as Boston Rescue Mission; it partners with DayBreak and A Woman's Concern to assist women facing unwanted [[pregnancy]]; it provides free [[English language|English]] classes for [[international student]]s and [[immigrant]]s; and it provides support for those who want it in their struggle with [[homosexuality|same-sex attraction]]through a ministry called [[Alive in Christ]], an affiliate of [[Exodus International]] a proponent of [[Reparative therapy|reparative therapy]]. Although the church has taken no official position on the issue of [[same-sex marriage]], senior minister [[Gordon P. Hugenberger|Gordon Hugenberger]] has publicly expressed his understanding of the [[Bible]]'s teaching on the morality of homosexual practice<ref>{{cite_web | first=Gordon | last=Hugenberger | title="Questions and Answers on Issues Related to Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage" | publisher=Park Street Church | url=http://www.parkstreet.org/pulpit/studyqss.shtml | date =2004-06-15 | accessdate=2006-10-11}}</ref> and signed a joint statement that was published by a broad group of religious leaders in ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' in support of an [[Constitutional amendment|amendment]] to the [[State constitution (United States)|state constitution]] that would ban [[same-sex marriage in Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite_web | title="Leaders and Members of Over 3000 Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues Issue Joint Statement in Support of Constitutional Amendment Initiative" | date=2004-07-02 | accessdate=2006-10-11 | | publisher=''[[The Boston Globe]]'' | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/02/07/leaders_and_members_of_over_3000_churches_mosques_and_synagogues_issue_joint_statement_in_support_of_constitutional_amendment_initiative}}</ref> |
||
Today, Park Street is a thriving congregation. Thousands of worshippers join together at one of the four services held each Sunday and participate in the dozens of ministries and missions and outreach programs the church hosts.{{fact}} Park Street is an international Congregation, with members from more than 60 countries. The church attracts many regular worshippers from among the [[undergraduate]]s, [[graduate student]]s, and faculty at Boston-area universities. |
Today, Park Street is a thriving congregation. Thousands of worshippers join together at one of the four services held each Sunday and participate in the dozens of ministries and missions and outreach programs the church hosts.{{fact}} Park Street is an international Congregation, with members from more than 60 countries. The church attracts many regular worshippers from among the [[undergraduate]]s, [[graduate student]]s, and faculty at Boston-area universities. |
||
Revision as of 14:40, 31 October 2006
The Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts is an active Conservative Congregational Church at the corner of Tremont Street and Park Street. The church is currently pastored by Gordon P. Hugenberger.
Park Street Church is a historic stop on the Freedom Trail. It was founded in 1809 by twenty-six local people, mostly former members of the Old South Meeting House. The cornerstone of the church was laid on May 1 and construction was completed by the end of the year, under the guidance of Peter Banner (architect), Benajah Young (chief mason) and Solomon Willards (woodcarver). Banner took inspiration from several early pattern books, and his design is reminiscent of a London church by Christopher Wren. Park Street church's steeple rises to 217 feet, and remains a landmark visible from several Boston neighborhoods. [1] The steeple is seen as the terminus of both Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street, two of Boston's radial avenues.
The church quickly became known as "Brimstone Corner", though whether this was for the storage of gunpowder during the War of 1812 or for the fiery sermons delivered from the corner balcony overlooking Boston Common is not entirely clear.[citation needed]
Park Street Church has a strong tradition of missions, evangelical doctrine, and application of Scripture to social issues. In 1816 Park Street Church joined with Old South Church to form the City Mission Society, a social service society to serve Boston's urban poor. On July 4, 1829, William Lloyd Garrison delivered his Address to the Colonization Society at Park Street, making his first major public statement against slavery. The church also hosted the debut of America by Samuel Francis Smith on July 4, 1831.
After almost 200 years, the church is still engaged in current social issues. For example, Park Street Church recently helped launch a private high school in Hyde Park to help address the educational needs of inner-city Boston (more than 70% of its students are on scholarship and more than 50% are minorities); it supports ministries for the homeless, such as Boston Rescue Mission; it partners with DayBreak and A Woman's Concern to assist women facing unwanted pregnancy; it provides free English classes for international students and immigrants; and it provides support for those who want it in their struggle with same-sex attractionthrough a ministry called Alive in Christ, an affiliate of Exodus International a proponent of reparative therapy. Although the church has taken no official position on the issue of same-sex marriage, senior minister Gordon Hugenberger has publicly expressed his understanding of the Bible's teaching on the morality of homosexual practice[2] and signed a joint statement that was published by a broad group of religious leaders in The Boston Globe in support of an amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.[3]
Today, Park Street is a thriving congregation. Thousands of worshippers join together at one of the four services held each Sunday and participate in the dozens of ministries and missions and outreach programs the church hosts.[citation needed] Park Street is an international Congregation, with members from more than 60 countries. The church attracts many regular worshippers from among the undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty at Boston-area universities.
References
- ^ Park Street Church history and architecture from the Park Street Church website
- ^ Hugenberger, Gordon (2004-06-15). ""Questions and Answers on Issues Related to Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage"". Park Street Church. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
- ^ ""Leaders and Members of Over 3000 Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues Issue Joint Statement in Support of Constitutional Amendment Initiative"". The Boston Globe. 2004-07-02. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)