Come discover a spiritually vibrant community
We truly believe Jesus is Good News for everyone of every background!
When you walk through the door at The River in downtown Manhattan, you'll find a non-denominational, LGBTQ inclusive church where faith and community continually intertwine in delightful ways.
Our main goal is to help you experience God's goodness in your personal life today. Everything in our church is geared to create a dynamic space where people of any and every background can grow in our own personal connection with the living God, with others, with the world around us, and even with ourselves.
We invite you to come and participate in some of the many opportunities we have to share in life-giving relationships with others through ongoing activities, including:
- Lively, fun & thought-provoking Sunday services
- Monthly all together "Brunch Church" for all ages
- Classes
- LifeGroups
- Sunday teams
- Serving people in need at The Father's Heart food pantry.
Services start at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays and include our RiverKids and RiverYouth programs. Our services are casual, and we encourage you to grab a cup of coffee or tea and make yourself comfortable. Our worship, sermon, and time of reflection all focus on how faith can enhance our lives and bring us together.
In fact, our members' faith stories alone represent the diversity of backgrounds, lifestyles, and beliefs in our community. The people of The River range from Wall Street bankers to LGBTQ Christians and former Catholics searching for a spiritual home — as well as those who are new to the faith altogether. We believe that our diversity makes us stronger and represents Jesus' love for all individuals.
Experience an inclusive church in manhattan
The River practices progressive Christianity built on the foundation that Jesus equally welcomes people of all backgrounds.
As such, we embrace and include our LGBTQ family as members, teachers and leaders in our community. When you walk into our church, you'll find a diverse congregation — with many different nationalities, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. And you’ll find members from Catholic, mainline Protestant, and atheistic backgrounds along with those who have no religious background at all. Women participate in church leadership at every level, and we welcome diverse nationalities. We believe that this diversity makes our church unique and strengthens our common bond in our pursuit of Jesus.
Both the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed shape our beliefs — which are anchored in the ancient expressions that captured the experiences and thinking of the majority of Jesus' followers throughout history.
The River is also a part of Blue Ocean Faith, which is a network of people and church leaders who are passionate about achieving inclusivity and vibrant spirituality. As an inclusive church in Manhattan, we want our members to reflect the diversity of New York City itself and show how Jesus' love and grace extend to all people of different backgrounds, orientations, and races.
Our goal is to help you experience God for yourself, rather than telling you what to believe. We want you to walk into our church feeling a sense of belonging and home, allowing you to freely encounter God in your own, personal way.
We would love for you to stop by to grab a cup of coffee, or attend a service, or even just to chat!
As such, we embrace and include our LGBTQ family as members, teachers and leaders in our community. When you walk into our church, you'll find a diverse congregation — with many different nationalities, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. And you’ll find members from Catholic, mainline Protestant, and atheistic backgrounds along with those who have no religious background at all. Women participate in church leadership at every level, and we welcome diverse nationalities. We believe that this diversity makes our church unique and strengthens our common bond in our pursuit of Jesus.
Both the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed shape our beliefs — which are anchored in the ancient expressions that captured the experiences and thinking of the majority of Jesus' followers throughout history.
The River is also a part of Blue Ocean Faith, which is a network of people and church leaders who are passionate about achieving inclusivity and vibrant spirituality. As an inclusive church in Manhattan, we want our members to reflect the diversity of New York City itself and show how Jesus' love and grace extend to all people of different backgrounds, orientations, and races.
Our goal is to help you experience God for yourself, rather than telling you what to believe. We want you to walk into our church feeling a sense of belonging and home, allowing you to freely encounter God in your own, personal way.
We would love for you to stop by to grab a cup of coffee, or attend a service, or even just to chat!