New school has a interfaith Christian fellowship

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Hi All,

I just moved to a new school in my program * and found they have an interfaith Christian Club that has morning prayer, has fellowship, does “good works” community projects and so on.

There is a Teacher [no idea what faith] and a Pastor [Assemblies of God] that facilitate the club. My question, should I participate in this club, even if it “loosely” sponsored by Pentecostal pastor? My Catholic faith is secure and unshakable, period. I can’t imagine that they would have anything approaching communion. But at the same time, I feel slightly nervous about going.

They welcome even non-Christians [they would have to, or they would not be allowed to function.]

I am just considering it as a way to meet the Christian community in the school. I am also hoping there are Catholics that attend.

Thoughts?*
 
esieffe said:
Hi All,

I just moved to a new school in my program * and found they have an interfaith Christian Club that has morning prayer, has fellowship, does “good works” community projects and so on.

There is a Teacher [no idea what faith] and a Pastor [Assemblies of God] that facilitate the club. My question, should I participate in this club, even if it “loosely” sponsored by Pentecostal pastor? My Catholic faith is secure and unshakable, period. I can’t imagine that they would have anything approaching communion. But at the same time, I feel slightly nervous about going.

They welcome even non-Christians [they would have to, or they would not be allowed to function.]

I am just considering it as a way to meet the Christian community in the school. I am also hoping there are Catholics that attend.

Thoughts?*

Personally, I would recommend not joining. There are a lot of these intrafaith clubs in college, and they are often either (a) anti-Catholic or (b) focus on Bible interpretations or theology that goes against Catholic teaching.

If you are in High School, I suggest that you join a youth group at your Parish. If your Parish doesn’t have one, contact your Archdioceses and join one at another Parish.

If you are in College, join the Catholic Campus Ministry on your campus. And if you don’t have one on your college campus, I would suggest trying to start one 👍

For college, check out:
For high school, check out:
Good luck and God Bless.
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OP- it sounds like you are staff/faculty at this school (am I correct?)

I would absolutely join. I was a member of such a club when I was in school back in the day, and it was mostly reading morning devotions (which I don’t think any person of any Christian faith could disagree with) and ministering to the vulnerable within our school and in the wider community- organizing hat and mitten drives, food drives, writing cards of encouragement to the nursing homes, etc.

I know there are lines staff members are not allowed to cross when it comes to facilitating/leading worship in public schools, but this could be a great opportunity for you to model your Catholic faith in a safe setting.
 
esieffe said:
Hi All,

I just moved to a new school in my program * and found they have an interfaith Christian Club that has morning prayer, has fellowship, does “good works” community projects and so on.

There is a Teacher [no idea what faith] and a Pastor [Assemblies of God] that facilitate the club. My question, should I participate in this club, even if it “loosely” sponsored by Pentecostal pastor? My Catholic faith is secure and unshakable, period. I can’t imagine that they would have anything approaching communion. But at the same time, I feel slightly nervous about going.

They welcome even non-Christians [they would have to, or they would not be allowed to function.]

I am just considering it as a way to meet the Christian community in the school. I am also hoping there are Catholics that attend.

Thoughts?*

Yes. 🙂
Click to expand...
 
I participated in an interfaith group in college. I met both Protestants and fellow Catholics. During the time I was part of that group, I remained Catholic and I’d say all of us grew in our Christian faith. Later I married a Protestant (not from that group but there were connections.) A few years later, I fell away from the Church and attended Protestant service with my husband. I’m back in the Catholic Church and my husband converted to Catholicism. I guess one could say all’s well that ends well.

There’s a danger of losing one’s Catholic faith when joining interfaith groups, but there’s also opportunity. I pray that God guides you in this decision.
 
phil19034 said:
Personally, I would recommend not joining. There are a lot of these intrafaith clubs in college, and they are often either (a) anti-Catholic or (b) focus on Bible interpretations or theology that goes against Catholic teaching.

If you are in High School, I suggest that you join a youth group at your Parish. If your Parish doesn’t have one, contact your Archdioceses and join one at another Parish.

If you are in College, join the Catholic Campus Ministry on your campus. And if you don’t have one on your college campus, I would suggest trying to start one 👍

For college, check out:
For high school, check out:
Good luck and God Bless.
Click to expand...
To the OP: I wrote the above answer based on believing that you are a student. If you are a teacher, then perhaps you could take part to bring a Catholic perspective. If you do, please make sure that they will let you provide the Catholic perspective so you can answer misunderstandings, etc.

And/or you could still start a Catholic one.

Either way, if you join; you could take some courses from your diocese to become a catechists or something
 
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