The Meeting House
|
a church for people who aren't into church | |
| Nonprofit Religious Organization | |
| Founded | Oakville 1985 |
| Headquarters | Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
Number of employees | 33 full time (2006, CRA) |
| Website |
www |
|
Footnotes / references The Meeting House is part of a denomination called the Brethren in Christ, or BIC for short. | |
The Meeting House is a Canadian church located in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ontario. It was founded in 1985 by Craig and Laura Sider, and was originally known as "Upper Oaks Community Church". With a consistent average weekly attendance of 4,400, the Hartford Institute of Religion ranks The Meeting House fourth among large churches (sometimes called megachurches) in Canada.[1] Teaching (sermons) produced on the church's main Oakville campus is either simulcast or sent out on a one-week delay to fifteen satellite Ontario churches which meet in theatres.
History
In 1985, Craig and Laura Sider moved to the west end Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ontario to start Upper Oaks Community Church. They were supported by the Brethren in Christ Canada.[2]
In 1996, Craig and Laura accepted a leadership position with the Brethren in Christ in Pennsylvania. Bruxy Cavey became the Teaching Pastor and the church met at Iroquois Ridge High School. Shortly afterward, the church changed its name to "The Meeting House".[2]
The Meeting House has grown and has attracted the attention of other Christian churches and the mainstream media.[3][4]
Leadership
Bruxy Cavey is the Teaching Pastor. He is the author of the book The End of Religion. Tim Day is the Senior Pastor and works with the Directors Team to provide overall leadership to the The Meeting House. Each Site is led by a Lead Pastor with a team of Elders and part-time staff.
Teachings
The Meeting House teaching aligns with anabaptist teachings. They emphasize a lifestyle of compassion, peace, simplicity, and the priority of community. The Meeting House has a particular emphasis on the irreligious nature of the teachings of Jesus. Their core beliefs are outlined in the Articles of Faith and Doctrine of their denomination.
References
- ↑ "Megachurches of Canada Listing". Hirr.hartsem.edu. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "our history". The Meeting House. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ↑ Bowen, John (February 2010). "What Anglicans can learn from The Meeting House". Niagara Anglican Online. Anglican Diocese of Niagara. Archived from the original on 2011-10-13.
- ↑ Brownell, Claire (December 20, 2014). "The sermon on the monitor: The new wave of evangelists who’ve turned preaching into a multimedia endeavour". Financial Post (National Post). Retrieved 2015-04-21.