Grace Pointe church, which bills itself as a “fusion of fine arts and faith,” plans an art gallery, coffee bar and live music as it forges a reputation as a community-based, unconventional church.
“We're a casual, relational type of church,” said the Rev. Alan Coler. “We don't intend to be a traditional church.”
With attendance at many mainline churches in decline, community churches are emerging across the country. They often combine scripture with modern issues and contemporary music, attracting a younger crowd.
On Feb. 17, parishioners brought lawn chairs as makeshift pews for their first 10 a.m. service on the corner of Main Street and North Higgins Avenue. Membership has swelled to about 100 since, growing from the small group who met last March in Coler's home to rented space at the Missoula Children's Theater.
Coler said his church explores individual creativity, seeking to connect people to God in a fluid way that offers something different from a structured liturgy.
“We're ‘transdenominational,' ” he said. “We don't care what tradition people come from. People in America are pretty transient. Rather than trying to get people to transform into what we are, we try engage with them.”
He said he tries to make the Bible relevant for all parishioners. On a recent Sunday, Angela Seiger, the children's director, did a rap version of the Ten Commandments as about 10 kids performed noises in accompaniment.
“The kids are excited to come to church, and they haven't been everywhere we've gone,” said Joe Pasternak, 38, of Missoula. “It's great for them and they are learning the right things.”
Grace Pointe is the third church Coler has started. It is a “dual plant,” with denominational ties to the American Baptist Church and Growing Healthy Churches, a nonprofit based in San Ramon, Calif.
The church's college-age group, which meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday nights, discusses controversial subjects, said Michael Hinkle, the college pastor.
“Our goal is to engage everyone. We want non-Christians to show up and have a dialogue,” Hinkle said. “We're not in the business of bashing churches or other visions, but we think it is important to present the Christian world view.”
The pastors tackle issues such as equality, addiction, pornography and slavery.
“These are conversations people in the community should be having anyway,” Coler said. “Whether they land at Grace Pointe is secondary.”
Passers-by peer into the windows, curious about the gathering of people singing. Other people walk outside with their heads down on a wintry Sunday morning.
Inside, parishioners sit in a mish-mash of furniture - a floral couch, a striped couch and several dozen black folding chairs. Some people wear skirts and ties, but most have donned blue jeans and casual attire.
Several worshippers said they enjoyed the congregation's mix - single parents, college students, older couples, youngsters and families. They said a storefront church is open and inviting, as people can stop in whenever they want.
Several church members said they enjoyed services at the Missoula Children's Theater. But they no longer have the hassle of setting up and breaking down the theater space for weekly worship.
Tom Attard, 29, a political science major at the University of Montana and an in-home health care worker, said he likes the openness of the new space.
“This has more potential to do some cool stuff - like concerts and First Fridays,” he said.
David Hanson, 20, a pre-pharmacy sophomore at UM, said he's eager to hang out downtown after church.
“It was kind of rushed there (at MCT). Here it is more relaxed,” he said. “People are curious about us. It's not just a church hiding in the corner.”
His wife said she enjoys the church, too.
“This church is open to people,” said Shelby Hanson, 19, a nurse's aide. “It's loving them for who they are, not for what they've done.”
The church's 5,000-square-foot space still has vestiges of the women's apparel shop it once was with track lighting and the word “dresses” etched on one window.
Outlines of the former changing rooms are apparent on the gray carpet. Eventually, this area will be an espresso bar. Coler said he hopes to have all the renovations completed by early April.
Debra Coler, the pastor's wife, envisions a thematic art gallery, such as “My Missoula,” that will change quarterly. She hopes some of the church members will staff the coffee bar.
“They'll be part of our ministry,” she said.
Linda McCarthy, executive director of the Missoula Downtown Association, said she hasn't seen a storefront church on North Higgins in the last decade. She's unsure what the upshot will be.
“I can't recall ever having seen something like that downtown,” McCarthy said. “But it is better to have an occupant in that building than have it empty.”
Coler was ordained in 1980, and completed his master's degree in theology in 2000 from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He is working on his doctorate in theology from the same seminary.
The pastor said Grace Pointe is still determining how to handle any homeless people who might wander into the church or its coffee bar.
“We're trying to figure out how to care for these people because they are right outside our windows,” Coler said. “We absolutely consider them part of the congregation. Whether they come or not, well, that's part of being homeless.”
Reporter Pamela J. Podger may be reached at 523-5241 or at pamela.podger@missoulian.com
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