Since the founding of The Village Chapel, there has been a specific word used to describe our community of faith. It’s a unique word that is present in our earliest documents. Through the years, this word has been specific, perhaps exclusively, to our organization, because we offer three distinct worship services each Sunday. The word is “interdenominational.” Interdenominationalism is the convergence of Christians representing various Christian faith traditions, around Christ as the Head of the Church. Like a tapestry of diverse colors and patterns and materials, a patchwork of individual pieces woven together, The Village Chapel is the richest diversity of Christian expression.
Interdenominationalism is unity. A time-honored maxim that captures our essence is: in the essentials, unity; in the non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. We are unified in the foundational, orthodox tenants of the Christian faith, while allowing doctrinal freedom with the non-essentials that define particular denominations, such as ritual and polity. It is the opposite of non-denominational. Non-denomination doesn’t resemble any mainline tradition, whereas The Village Chapel presents three denominationally familiar worship services. Each service incorporates rituals, liturgy, creeds, and hymns, that are recognizable to most Christians.
Interdenominational is not interfaith. Interfaith implies the equality of the world religions with Christianity. Christ, as the Son of God, has no equal. Interdenominationalism does involve the collaboration and fellowship between Christian denominations within the community for the advancement of The Kingdom of God. The Village Chapel in nature and practice is ecumenical. It is Christ-centered, Bible-based, and service-focused. It celebrates the catholic (universal) Body of Christ, and most closely resembles the diversity found in the Kingdom of God.
Proudly, The Village Chapel is interdenominational.