Church Bio
Highlands Church celebrated its second anniversary on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
A church with roots in the evangelical tradition, Highlands Church departs from general evangelical practice and theology by thoroughly welcoming the LGBTQ community as full members of the community and the church leadership.
Originally planned as a third campus for a Denver-area church, Highlands Church amicably separated from the organization over differences of opinion related to the full inclusion of all people in the life of the church. While this shift resulted in losing more than 50% of the people and 2/3rds of the expected financial support, the change also opened the doors for the new church to pursue with clarity and focus its mission to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. Founding pastor, Mark Tidd and Worship Pastor, Rachael McClair and an interim, six-person church leadership team found space in an old building at 3241 Lowell Boulevard in the Highlands neighborhood and held the first worship service on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
The church has faced challenges and overwhelming joy in the past two years. The congregation has prayerfully adapted and responded to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. A few examples of God’s work among the people of Highlands Church include:
· Maintaining the rented, beautiful old church building for services and ministry
· Supporting Mark Tidd when he was “defrocked” —that is, losing his official ordination based on beliefs related to the wide-embrace of God for all peoples
· Facing the end of a rental lease by creating new temporary plans to hold services in North High School near Federal and Speer beginning March 4, 2012
· Hiring new staff members: Jenny Morgan, Joe Jones, Jeana Pynes and Jim Smelser
· Developing an active core of co-team leaders who facilitate ministry with more than 150 volunteers
· Releasing their first, but probably not last CD, “Gloria”
God has continued to challenge and use the young congregation in profound ways in the Highlands neighborhood, the city of Denver and far beyond. The church is thriving. Attendance has grown from about 80 to more than 300 participants each Sunday. The initial leadership team—who managed everything from HR to payroll, and from event-planning to building maintenance—has transitioned to a larger, established leadership structure consisting of an official Leadership Council, a staff team of five, more than ten active ministry teams each led by volunteer co-team leaders. The ministry teams include Community Hour, an adoption group, social justice and advocacy groups, a prayer team, Community Life Outreach, Community Life Events, dozens of Intentional Communities (Deepen Groups), and a choir, just to name a few. The church also partners with the non-profit group Strings and Wood to support local musicians and artists. The church has also hosted three annual Symposiums on the Evangelical Church and Homosexuality, which have drawn more than 600 people from around the country.
Highlands Church is developing into a healthy, loving community that serves Jesus Christ from a platform of shared leadership. Lay leaders take on significant areas of responsibility, supported by staff team members. A flat, improvisational leadership style creates space for Christ to work in and through anyone and everyone. This kind of leadership is patterned after the loving reciprocity and mutual relationships within the Trinity. The people of Highlands Church are empowered and encouraged to respond to God's work in their lives and God’s call in their hearts. The gifts God places in each person are honored and encouraged to flourish at Highlands Church.
A church with roots in the evangelical tradition, Highlands Church departs from general evangelical practice and theology by thoroughly welcoming the LGBTQ community as full members of the community and the church leadership.
Originally planned as a third campus for a Denver-area church, Highlands Church amicably separated from the organization over differences of opinion related to the full inclusion of all people in the life of the church. While this shift resulted in losing more than 50% of the people and 2/3rds of the expected financial support, the change also opened the doors for the new church to pursue with clarity and focus its mission to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. Founding pastor, Mark Tidd and Worship Pastor, Rachael McClair and an interim, six-person church leadership team found space in an old building at 3241 Lowell Boulevard in the Highlands neighborhood and held the first worship service on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
The church has faced challenges and overwhelming joy in the past two years. The congregation has prayerfully adapted and responded to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. A few examples of God’s work among the people of Highlands Church include:
· Maintaining the rented, beautiful old church building for services and ministry
· Supporting Mark Tidd when he was “defrocked” —that is, losing his official ordination based on beliefs related to the wide-embrace of God for all peoples
· Facing the end of a rental lease by creating new temporary plans to hold services in North High School near Federal and Speer beginning March 4, 2012
· Hiring new staff members: Jenny Morgan, Joe Jones, Jeana Pynes and Jim Smelser
· Developing an active core of co-team leaders who facilitate ministry with more than 150 volunteers
· Releasing their first, but probably not last CD, “Gloria”
God has continued to challenge and use the young congregation in profound ways in the Highlands neighborhood, the city of Denver and far beyond. The church is thriving. Attendance has grown from about 80 to more than 300 participants each Sunday. The initial leadership team—who managed everything from HR to payroll, and from event-planning to building maintenance—has transitioned to a larger, established leadership structure consisting of an official Leadership Council, a staff team of five, more than ten active ministry teams each led by volunteer co-team leaders. The ministry teams include Community Hour, an adoption group, social justice and advocacy groups, a prayer team, Community Life Outreach, Community Life Events, dozens of Intentional Communities (Deepen Groups), and a choir, just to name a few. The church also partners with the non-profit group Strings and Wood to support local musicians and artists. The church has also hosted three annual Symposiums on the Evangelical Church and Homosexuality, which have drawn more than 600 people from around the country.
Highlands Church is developing into a healthy, loving community that serves Jesus Christ from a platform of shared leadership. Lay leaders take on significant areas of responsibility, supported by staff team members. A flat, improvisational leadership style creates space for Christ to work in and through anyone and everyone. This kind of leadership is patterned after the loving reciprocity and mutual relationships within the Trinity. The people of Highlands Church are empowered and encouraged to respond to God's work in their lives and God’s call in their hearts. The gifts God places in each person are honored and encouraged to flourish at Highlands Church.
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