An interdenominational church or organization is one that welcomes and includes people from different Christian denominations. The key aspects of an interdenominational church or ministry include:
Open Membership
An interdenominational church does not require members to ascribe to a particular denominational doctrine or tradition. People from various denominational backgrounds, such as Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc., can freely join and participate in the church. The focus is on Christian unity beyond denominational divides.
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV)
Diversity in Leadership and Membership
The pastoral leadership and membership of an interdenominational church reflect diversity across denominational lines. The leaders and members may come from or identify with different denominations, but serve together in the shared mission of the church.
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV)
Shared Statement of Faith
An interdenominational church unites around shared evangelical essential beliefs, rather than distinctive denominational doctrines. This allows diversity in non-essential matters of doctrine and practice. The statement of faith usually focuses on foundational truths like the authority of Scripture, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, salvation by grace alone through faith, etc.
“There is one body and one Spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…” (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV)
Focus on Essentials, Liberty in Non-Essentials
Interdenominational churches allow liberty in matters of doctrine and practice that are not essential to the Christian faith. This allows diversity in worship style, ministry philosophy, spiritual gifts, etc. The focus is on unity in the gospel message and mission of Jesus.
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” (Attributed to Augustine)
Celebration of Diverse Traditions
An interdenominational church embraces the rich diversity of Christian liturgical and worship traditions. The worship service may incorporate elements from different denominations, such as liturgical prayers, contemporary worship music, and gospel preaching.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)
Cooperation Beyond Denominational Lines
An interdenominational church partners with other churches and ministries across denominational boundaries for the sake of greater Christian unity and impact. They prioritize the whole Body of Christ and cooperation in ministry over denominational divides.
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV)
In summary, an interdenominational church seeks to embody Jesus’ prayer for unity across denominational lines:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21 ESV)
The mission is bringing glory to God by showing the unity and love that Jesus makes possible, even amid diversity in secondary doctrines and denominational traditions.
Advantages of an Interdenominational Church
There are several advantages to the interdenominational church model:
- Demonstrates unity and love of Christ across traditional divides
- Allows cooperation and mutually edification between denominations
- Provides a church home for those disillusioned with denominationalism
- Encourages focus on essential doctrines, not secondary differences
- Creates space for diversity in worship and ministry styles
- Promotes impact and scope beyond denominational constraints
- Reduces disunity and discord within the Body of Christ
Challenges of an Interdenominational Church
There are also some potential challenges:
- Must intentionally maintain biblical doctrine and guard against theological drift
- Risk of minimizing important doctrinal distinctions
- Difficulty in accommodating widely divergent viewpoints
- Perception by some denominations of association with heterodoxy
- Loss of denominational identity, relationships, and resources
- Requires humility, patience, and commitment to unity
Marks of a Healthy Interdenominational Church
Here are some key marks of a healthy interdenominational church:
- Clear statement of faith focused on evangelical essentials
- Commitment to the authority of Scripture as the final arbiter
- Culture of grace, acceptance, generosity, and unity
- Diversity in leadership and membership
- Balance of historical tradition and contemporary relevance
- Focus on gospel proclamation and making disciples
- Willingness to partner with other biblically-faithful churches
- Patience, humility, and charity in dealing with disputes
- Leadership unified behind the church’s vision and mission
Examples of Prominent Interdenominational Churches and Ministries
Here are some leading examples of interdenominational churches and ministries:
- Willow Creek Community Church – Megachurch located in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington, IL. Began in 1975 and now averages over 24,000 attendees per week.
- Saddleback Church – Megachurch founded by Rick Warren in California in 1980. Known for the Purpose Driven paradigm.
- Calvary Chapel – Founded in 1965 in Southern California. Network of over 1,500 churches worldwide.
- Hope Church – Megachurch located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Founded in 2006 and draws around 10,000 people each week.
- Evangelical Covenant Church – Denomination established in 1885 with roots in Swedish Pietism and the Methodist Church. Over 850 churches in North America.
- Vineyard Churches – Association of over 600 churches founded in 1974 emphasizing contemporary worship and the gifts of the Spirit.
- Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) – Interdenominational ministry focused on evangelism and discipleship on college campuses and globally.
- InterVarsity Christian Fellowship – Interdenominational college campus ministry in the U.S. with over 1,000 chapters.
- Navigators – International interdenominational Christian discipleship ministry serving over 4 million people annually.
- Young Life – Nonprofit ministry focused on introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in faith. Reaches over 1.7 million youth globally each year.
These prominent churches and parachurch organizations demonstrate the ethos and impact possible through interdenominational cooperation in ministry.
How to Start an Interdenominational Church
Starting a new interdenominational church involves many of the same steps as planting any church, along with some additional considerations:
- Pray – Seek God’s wisdom and guidance at each phase. Assemble a diverse prayer team from multiple denominations.
- Cast vision – Share the vision of reaching unity and making disciples across denominational lines.
- Assemble leadership team – Recruit a pastoral team and board from varied denominational backgrounds united around the vision.
- Define doctrinal parameters – Draft a clear statement of faith affirmed by leadership to safeguard biblical fidelity.
- Secure meeting location – Rent a neutral facility open to all or share space with an existing interdenominational congregation.
- Initiate outreach – Design a marketing strategy to connect with disillusioned denominationalists, the unchurched, etc.
- Launch preview services – Host open-to-all preview services to demonstrate vision and build momentum.
- Hold grand opening – Kick off weekly services and ministries with a special community-wide grand opening.
- Focus on unity and growth – Foster culture of grace, continually reaffirm vision, and emphasize evangelism.
With careful leadership selection, vision casting, and faithful biblical preaching and teaching, a new interdenominational church can become a diverse and unified community making disciples across traditional divides for God’s glory.
Conclusion
An interdenominational church seeks to demonstrate the unity of the Body of Christ across denominational lines. By upholding essential evangelical doctrine while allowing diversity in secondary matters, an interdenominational church provides a home for Christians seeking a church unfettered by denominational politics or narrowness. An interdenominational church faces challenges, including the need for vigilant theological discernment and intentional maintenance of unity. However, an interdenominational fellowship centered around the lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the priority of the gospel mission can powerfully display the love of God to a divided world.
