Grinnell lists 17 churches within its city limits, a striking number for a town of just over 9,000.
To understand the role these congregations play in the community, The Scarlet & Black is asking every Grinnell church the same set of questions about their values, practices and place in local life.
Here is the first round of responses from churches which have been lightly edited for clarity.
Calvary Baptist Church:
Faith or denomination: General Baptist
Days and times of service: The weekly schedule includes Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and a worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, plus a Sunday evening growth group at 6 p.m. During the week, there is a Bible study and prayer meeting on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., and a children’s AWANA program on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church:
Faith or denomination: Presbyterian, progressive theology
Days and times of service: Sundays at 10:30 am. If you are unable to come to the church on Sunday morning, you can watch worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings live on YouTube. Children are welcome in worship. On the third Sunday, there’s a time during the service for children to come forward and participate in an age-appropriate message.
St. Mary Catholic Church:
Faith or denomination: Catholic
Days and times of service: This week’s services include Mass on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday at 8:30 a.m., followed by a coffee social in the parish hall. On Friday, there will be a Communion Service at 8:30 a.m. and Adoration from 9–10 a.m.. The weekend schedule includes the Vigil Mass on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m., with coffee and rolls served afterward in the parish hall.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church:
Faith or denomination: Episcopalian
Days and times of service: Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. A couple times a year their special services, such as Christmas Eve or The Great Vigil of Easter, will be at different times. Most Sundays have a 9 AM Bible Reflection, a low-key gathering to reflect on the scripture. At 11:45 a.m., they also have Coffee Hour.
United Church of Christ Congregational:
Faith or denomination: United Church of Christ
Days and times of service: The parish offers a weekly schedule that includes Mass on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Thursday at 8:30 a.m. with a coffee social following, a Friday Communion Service at 8:30 a.m. with Adoration from 9–10 a.m., a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4 p.m., and Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. with coffee and rolls afterward. The regular Sunday worship service takes place at 10:30 a.m., with additional services held during special liturgical times such as Ash Wednesday and Christmas Eve. From September through May, educational and community-building programming for all ages, including college students and adults, is offered on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:15 a..m.
Westfield Community Church:
Faith or denomination: Non-Denominational
Days and times of service: Sundays at 10:30 am.
Q: What is the main demographic within your congregation?
Calvary Baptist Church: At our church, it is mostly people who live full-time, year-round in Iowa, in the surrounding areas. Although we do have quite a few number of college students who attend. Our average age of non-college students for the church is probably going to be around 50. We do have, as most churches do, quite a few older adults, but we also have youth and young adult programs that are there as well. In that regard, our average attendance—we’re a small church that’s growing. Our pastor just recently came back in June. We average somewhere around 70 to 75 people for our Sunday morning services.
First Presbyterian Church: We are a mixed congregation, with seniors, retirees, people who work, youth and kids.
St. Mary Catholic Church: St. Mary did not provide an answer to this question.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: We are primarily Caucasian but welcome people of all races and languages — we even welcome folks who are not Christian or who hold no creed. We use the language of our own tradition, but believe all people are equally beloved to God. We have a wide range of ages, from God’s littlest people to the wise elders. Many members of the Grinnell College community, students, faculty and staff worship here as do many folks from town.
United Church of Christ Congregational: Our congregation is truly intergenerational with people gathering on any given Sunday morning from ages 1 – 90+ years old. We have a mix of families and college students, elderly and middle aged folks. Our congregation is predominately white, and folks with Asian, Latino, African and Native heritage also call Grinnell UCC their church home. Individuals and Families representing the entire spectrum of the LGBTQQIA+ community are part of our congregation and wider faith family and are welcome at Grinnell UCC.
Westfield Community Church: Westfield Community Church did not provide an answer to this question.
Q: How involved is your church in politics or community advocacy?
Calvary Baptist Church: I wouldn’t say we’re very much involved in politics at all. Our main focus is to be focused on God’s word, on the Bible and preaching it. So there are times that maybe current events might overlap with some of that. It might be mentioned, but we’re not a very politically active church.
First Presbyterian Church: We are what’s called a “Matthew 25 Church.” Matthew 25 has three main goals: 1. Eradicating poverty. 2. Dismantling racism. 3. Congregational vitality. These commitments often have political implications, and we do our best to live into those commitments.
St. Mary Catholic Church: St. Mary did not provide an answer to this question.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: We are fairly involved — our rector is a registered lobbyist for the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, and during the legislative session of the Iowa General Assembly goes weekly to the statehouse to lobby lawmakers on subjects the Episcopal Church has expressed care for — such as speaking in favor of the rights of Trans Americans, or opposition to the death penalty. Many of our members are active in social justice efforts or civic engagement, and the Episcopal Church nationally is involved in public policy and advocacy.
United Church of Christ Congregational: Our church takes seriously the call to live out our faith in the public square. We believe that we are tasked with doing the work of love and justice by speaking truth to power and advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable –– often through political and community activism. The gospel is always political, even if it is not partisan. We are faithfully on the look out for God at work on the margins of society and seek to advocate for the ones our world insists on silencing.
Westfield Community Church: Westfield Community Church did not provide an answer to this question.
Q: What are your church’s views or values regarding immigration?
Calvary Baptist Church: We enjoy having people from all walks of life come and attend. We’re predominantly, mostly individuals who have been born and raised here in Iowa, so we fit into that kind of demographic, but we’ve been privileged to have a lot of foreign exchange students, a lot of different people from the college, Grinnell College, in particular, that have come that are not primarily from the United States. We encourage and seek to embrace that we work on technology, even to help with translation issues, if that’s a need. Our job as a church is to be able to present the gospel to people and to reach people on behalf of the gospel of Christ. So our goal would be that whoever comes through our doors that we’re able to reach them towards God’s glory.
First Presbyterian Church: God’s love knows no borders. These are human constructions and often cause hurt and material harm to the most vulnerable people in our communities and world. One way, among others, we live that out is by being a part of CoSI (Community Support for Immigrants), providing humanitarian assistance to immigrants in Grinnell and the central Iowa community.
St. Mary Catholic Church: St. Mary did not provide an answer to this question.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: We believe all people, no matter their immigration status, are to be cherished and cared for and lovingly protected. We try to follow Jesus, whose own family sought refuge in a foreign country soon after his birth (Matthew 2.13-23). We are called by God to treat folks from other places as if they are one of us (Leviticus 19.34)
United Church of Christ Congregational: The United Church of Christ has a long history of solidarity in the struggle for dignity and human rights for immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees regardless of their immigration status. We do this through a network of grassroots leaders in the UCC National Collaborative on Immigration working to share a prophetic stance and lift up the voices of impacted leaders. Our denomination also works at the federal level to advocate for just and equitable immigration policies. Currently, Grinnell UCC is the hub for the work the Grinnell Organizing Collective is doing to support immigration protection efforts in our community.
Westfield Community Church: Westfield Community Church did not provide an answer to this question.
Q: What are your church’s views or values regarding LGBTQIA+ individuals and same-sex marriage?
Calvary Baptist Church: We would take a biblical view on that. From the biblical point of view, we would agree with the idea that marriage is designed to be between one man and one woman. So we are not going to, by any means, push anybody out or ask them to leave, but if we’re going to stick to what we see as what the Bible teaches, then our view will be that it’s marriage between one man and one woman.
First Presbyterian Church: We are distressed by the recent moves in our state and country to strip LGBTQIA+ folks of their rights and humanity. Our congregation is a mix of people, including folks who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We follow their lead in finding ways to increase our welcome of, and advocacy for, this community.
St. Mary Catholic Church: St. Mary did not provide an answer to this question.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: We support LGBTQIA+ people 100 percent. There is no bar to any level of participation of members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Episcopal Church, including that of bishop. Our diocese started a program two years ago called Episco-Pride, aimed at helping congregations deepen their welcome of members from the LGBTQIA+ community, and St. Paul’s took part in that program. We also support same-sex marriage, and in the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa have been performing them for about the last 17 years.
United Church of Christ Congregational: In 2001 Grinnell UCC became an Open and Affirming congregation, joining a nationwide movement that fully embraces LGBTQIA+ persons and families into the life and leadership of the church. Today our congregation strives to be a deliberately inclusive body of youth, college students, families, and elders who represent the beauty and diversity of God’s creation. Each Sunday before worship we remind ourselves of our calling to become a church that includes everyone with no mind to sexual orientation or gender expression by repeating a common refrain, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” And not only welcomed but LGBTQIA+ folks and families are affirmed, celebrated, blessed, hold leadership positions, are ordained and participate in the full life and communion of our congregation.
Westfield Community Church: Westfield Community Church did not provide an answer to this question.
Q: Is there anything else you would like newcomers or community members to know about your church?
Calvary Baptist Church: Our church is a Bible believing church. So you’re going to see and hear us speaking from the Bible. We have a group of people who are there to encourage and lift people up. I think you’d find that we’re a very welcoming and very friendly group of people. That’s what we normally hear from everybody. So when newcomers or visitors come we want to reach out to them. We want them to know that we’re glad they’re there. And so everything from the preaching to a prayer to music to all of the programming that we have is designed to look into God’s Word, to understand his word and to bring God glory through that.
First Presbyterian Church: We are small, quirky, active and open. We have people who are neuro-diverse, come from various backgrounds and economic realities. Our community is full of people who work really hard to undo our own ways of Empire and colonization, while seeking out voices and people from the margin to teach us how to be more like the gospel requires us to be. If you find yourself anywhere in that description, come join us!
St. Mary Catholic Church: As Catholics, we believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims as revealed by God. Our faith and works of charity are centered around the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Second Vatican Council [1964], Lumen Gentium, 11) where Jesus Christ is truly present to give life to the Church and its mission to bring the Gospel message to the ends of the world. If you would like to know more about Catholicism and how to get involved in our Church’s life, we would like to invite you to contact us at [email protected].
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: We have a nice group of students who attend St. Paul’s, and once a month have a student meal somewhere in town, usually for brunch but occasionally dinner. Students also take part in the leadership of St. Paul’s, two of them currently serve on our Vestry (like a board), others serve as readers or cantors. The parish really cares about Grinnell students and the entire campus community, and we are deeply enriched by the students who are part of our life. We also have a LOT of fun at St. Paul’s. We are good at celebrating.
United Church of Christ Congregational: We aren’t perfect, our worship isn’t flashy. But we are an amazing community of people who have a heart for justice, who love each other well and who want to make this world a better place by following the way of Jesus. And we would LOVE for you to worship with us if you are seeking a place to be known, to be loved and to belong — just exactly as you are.
Westfield Community Church: Westfield Community Church highlights its pastor’s revelatory preaching style, focused on deep study of Scripture and its practical applications. The church also notes that GPS directions often misroute visitors. To reach the building: drive south out of Grinnell until passing under I-80, take the first right, continue roughly two miles, then take the next right; the church is located just down the road next to PALS animal rescue.
