Our Story and Values
The River began in October 2004 with a group of 10 people who moved to New York City with an exciting vision to build a vibrant church in Lower Manhattan. Since then, the church has grown by a couple hundred people and has moved to a beautiful new location in Midtown Manhattan. In-person attendees of the River come from all five boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, and Westchester County, though people from around the country (and the world!) regularly tune into our services on YouTube Live.
DIVERSE
At the River, you'll find a diverse congregation made up of individuals from many different nationalities, races/ethnicities, professions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women and LGBTQ+ individuals participate in all aspects of church life as members, teachers, and leaders in the community. River-ites come from many different religious backgrounds (varied expressions of Christianity, other faith traditions, agnosticism, and atheism) and represent many different stages of life (ranging from infants to those in their sixties). We believe that this diversity makes our church unique, helps to broaden our perspectives, and enables us to experience God more fully.
AFFIRMING
The River is an inclusive church and fully affirms LGBTQ+ people and relationships. We believe that LGBTQ+ individuals are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139) in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), just as they are. Practically speaking, this means that there are no restrictions placed on LGBTQ+ individuals when it comes to church participation, membership, volunteering, leading, getting married, being baptized, etc. We also have programming specifically aimed at supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community.
LIFE-GIVING
We believe that engaging with spirituality and participating in a faith community should be life-giving experiences. And so, at the River, we seek to create spaces and programming where people can strengthen their connections (to God, self, others, creation, and the world around us); can more deeply embody unconditional love; and can become more fully alive (John 10:10). Key aspects of this approach include emphases on freedom and joy (rather than shame, fear, pressure and manipulation) and on emotional health. We are strong supporters of mental health treatment and have many therapists and social workers in our congregation (including on our staff).
THOUGHTFUL
At the River, we believe that the spiritual journey is meant to positively engage all aspects of our selves (hearts, souls, bodies, etc.), including our minds. As such, we value science, scholarship, and common sense, and believe that questions, doubts, and disagreements are normal, healthy aspects of a life of faith — and ones that are often necessary portals to learning and growth.
PRACTICAL
We are convinced that following Jesus is meant to make an actual difference in our lives — not just in what we believe, but also in how we experience and move through the world. And so, at the River, we seek to embrace theology that bears good fruit; we try to offer suggestions and tools that can easily be implemented in daily life; and we endeavor to create spaces where members can freely encounter God in their own, personal ways.
BIBLICAL
At the River, we take the Bible seriously! For us, taking the Bible seriously means understanding how it was compiled; considering its various genres, contexts, authors, and audiences; and always interpreting through the overarching principle of unconditional love. Rather than approaching the Bible as a clear-cut guidebook for how to live, we view it as a spiritual conversation or dialogue that we are invited to join. Like the people of faith that came before us, we too can wrestle (both individually and collectively) with our understanding of who God is and with life's biggest questions — and the Bible can be a helpful tool for this kind of wrestling.
DIVERSE
At the River, you'll find a diverse congregation made up of individuals from many different nationalities, races/ethnicities, professions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women and LGBTQ+ individuals participate in all aspects of church life as members, teachers, and leaders in the community. River-ites come from many different religious backgrounds (varied expressions of Christianity, other faith traditions, agnosticism, and atheism) and represent many different stages of life (ranging from infants to those in their sixties). We believe that this diversity makes our church unique, helps to broaden our perspectives, and enables us to experience God more fully.
AFFIRMING
The River is an inclusive church and fully affirms LGBTQ+ people and relationships. We believe that LGBTQ+ individuals are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139) in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), just as they are. Practically speaking, this means that there are no restrictions placed on LGBTQ+ individuals when it comes to church participation, membership, volunteering, leading, getting married, being baptized, etc. We also have programming specifically aimed at supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community.
LIFE-GIVING
We believe that engaging with spirituality and participating in a faith community should be life-giving experiences. And so, at the River, we seek to create spaces and programming where people can strengthen their connections (to God, self, others, creation, and the world around us); can more deeply embody unconditional love; and can become more fully alive (John 10:10). Key aspects of this approach include emphases on freedom and joy (rather than shame, fear, pressure and manipulation) and on emotional health. We are strong supporters of mental health treatment and have many therapists and social workers in our congregation (including on our staff).
THOUGHTFUL
At the River, we believe that the spiritual journey is meant to positively engage all aspects of our selves (hearts, souls, bodies, etc.), including our minds. As such, we value science, scholarship, and common sense, and believe that questions, doubts, and disagreements are normal, healthy aspects of a life of faith — and ones that are often necessary portals to learning and growth.
PRACTICAL
We are convinced that following Jesus is meant to make an actual difference in our lives — not just in what we believe, but also in how we experience and move through the world. And so, at the River, we seek to embrace theology that bears good fruit; we try to offer suggestions and tools that can easily be implemented in daily life; and we endeavor to create spaces where members can freely encounter God in their own, personal ways.
BIBLICAL
At the River, we take the Bible seriously! For us, taking the Bible seriously means understanding how it was compiled; considering its various genres, contexts, authors, and audiences; and always interpreting through the overarching principle of unconditional love. Rather than approaching the Bible as a clear-cut guidebook for how to live, we view it as a spiritual conversation or dialogue that we are invited to join. Like the people of faith that came before us, we too can wrestle (both individually and collectively) with our understanding of who God is and with life's biggest questions — and the Bible can be a helpful tool for this kind of wrestling.
What Are Real River Members Saying?
“It is so refreshing to witness a spirituality that truly embraces ALL.” —Lynda
“The River is a place you can ask difficult questions without being afraid of getting judged or reprimanded. You don’t have to hide your authentic self.” —Sooji
"The River was how I felt I could keep following Jesus but still find somewhere that will hold space for the way I was growing and hurting as a person.” —Meggie
"This church community feels very safe and loving even through a computer screen.” —Vanessa
“If you want a place where you can both think and laugh, it’s the place to be. My kids love it, too.” —Danielle
Why We Are Called The River
The name of our church is inspired by something that Jesus said in the Gospel of John: "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)
Here at the River, we seek to be a community that drinks deeply of God's living water and that shares this refreshing, revitalizing water with those around us.
Here at the River, we seek to be a community that drinks deeply of God's living water and that shares this refreshing, revitalizing water with those around us.