I love the Judson - Grace Weber

I think the Judson Church has the right idea about religion. I love their description of the church on their website:

"You've found a church that's a little bit different. It looks like a high Italian Renaissance church for a reason you might not expect from low church Baptists.

We're deeply rooted in free church, Baptist and UCC traditions, but every kind of believer and not-so-much-a believer gathers together on Sunday mornings. We've been Gay Proud long before Gay Pride.

We're interested in changing the plight of the marginalized and noticing when the emperors have no clothes. We think the arts make life worth living and celebrate the secular and sacred in all that we do, including worship and how we use our glorious spaces."


I grew up in the Catholic Church, going to a Catholic grade school and high school. I was confirmed in the religion, only because I wanted to go through the process of learning more about the religion before deciding that I didn't want to be a part of it anymore. I thought, well, I'll just go to the confirmation classes and then decide how I feel about catholicism. On the day I got confirmed, I turned to my mom and said, "I do not want to be a part of the Catholic Church". I got confirmed that day anyways, just because my grandma was there and I knew it would make her happy. I could have cared less as the priest put the oil on my forehead. I was slowly growing more and more angry with the church, after dealing with horribly mean nuns, hipocritical parish members, and the close-minded views of most catholics, including the idea that homosexuality is wrong. The sex abuse scandal pushed me over the edge. I was so disgusted with everything about the Catholic Church, that I found myself loosing faith in religion in general. I haven't gone to church since I was a senior in high school, I've prayed maybe once since then, and when I see "I love Jesus" t-shirts I couldn't be more annoyed.

Going to the Judson church re-ignited my faith in religion. I was so refreshed to find out they supported gays and welcomed all types of believers and non-believers. I think Jesus wanted his church to be like the Judson, not a place where only certain kinds of people are welcome. It's absolutely amazing that the Judson Church, church being a word that is most always associated with conservatism, has been a leader in the march of liberalism and freedom for all types of people since its creation in 1890. I think it's ridiculously cool that the Juson holds performances, dances, concerts, and different art showcases in its space. I am thinking of attending mass there one of these days to see what it's like. I may even join because although I never want to be a part of organized religion again, I would love to be a part of a loving community of liberal people who have the same morals as I. I love the Judson Church.