WHY COSMO

BECAUSE YOU KNOW THERE'S MORE!

• If you’re in a place where you’re still connected spiritually, but “church” as you’ve known it is just not doing it for you anymore...
• If you want corporate worship and connection to a spiritual community without the doctrines, dogma and denominationalism…
• If you want to be free to be curious, ask hard theological questions and live out your unique expression of Divinity without being judged or ostracized…
• If you are interested in simply following the way of Jesus without all the complicated, constricting traditions of religion…
  

...we want to invite you to join the Cosmopolitan Congregation.

"COSMOPOLITAN" - composed of persons, constituents, or elements from all or many parts of the world; Cosmopolites are “citizens of the world” and comfortable among many different people groups. Cosmopolitanism erases the boundaries that separate humans - race, gender, sexual orientation, physical or cognitive ability, nationality, religious/spiritual practice or any other social construction.

"CONGREGATION" - a gathering or assembly of people who meet for worship and religious/spiritual guidance or instruction.

The Cosmopolitan Congregation is an intentionally diverse and inclusive spiritual community created to provide a safe space for people who are deconstructing old religious paradigms, seeking expanded spiritual awareness and pursuing Christ Consciousness. 

Our focus is on the message, ministry and methods of the biblical Jesus, not a particular religion. A truly cosmopolitan congregation is composed of people who hold many different religious perspectives as well as those who have no affiliation at all.

We consider ourselves “Metacostal” in that we embrace both the fundamental Pentecostal principles and expressions of egalitarianism, racial unity, and the power of transcendence and oneness with the Divine as well as metaphysical interpretations of holy texts. We embrace unapologetically the mystical, transcendent examples of Jesus Christ and our indigenous ancestors. In other words, we prioritize an expanded spiritual and theological perspective that challenges us intellectually while holding fast to many of the ecstatic expressions of worship and praise rooted in the Black church tradition. Yes, we sing, we dance, we clap our hands, and we shout in joy!

We don’t just see Jesus as “savior” in the way most have been taught in traditional Christianity, but as our model. We see Jesus as the prototype for living powerfully in our humanity while fully embracing and living into the power of our divinity! 

At COSMO we actually believe that we are made in the likeness and image of God according to Genesis 1:27! We are not wretched or sinful or like a filthy rag. We are divine; good (God) in essence and that people only need to be made conscious of that fact, just as Jesus was.

What makes us different - we focus on cosmopolitanism, metacostalism, our core values and a flat organizational structure that minimizes the harms that have traditionally been associated with hierarchy in the church.

We do not preach dogma or prioritize doctrine over the lived experiences of people. We encourage honesty, doubt, curiosity and open dialogue. We believe that people are best suited to decide for themselves how to live out their spirituality without the guilt and fear too often associated with being a part of a spiritual community.

As we seek to become more Christ conscious, our goal is to model a new, more simplified   way of communal worship that removes the complexities and minutia of church and puts our core values into practice.

Our CORE VALUES:

• Worship – loving God.
• Self-care – loving ourselves.
• Service – loving our neighbors.
• Community – building and encouraging one another.
• Education – studying so that we are able recognize and articulate truth.

Our CORE BELIEFS: 

• All religion is humanity's quest for enlightenment and its attempt to understand and commune with the Creator - that Great Spirit that is known by many names.
• All religious traditions have the potential to lead to enlightenment and a deeper connection to God and the universe. 
• We honor and respect all peaceful, loving paths towards an expanded awareness of the Divine.
• We have the pantheistic belief that there is divinity in all of creation.
• We believe that there is much to be gained from celebrating difference, therefore we strive to build and foster a community that is diverse, inclusive and intentionally welcoming of people from ALL walks of life.
• We believe that all people are of one divine source and are eternally and inextricably connected.
• We believe that the message and ministry of the biblical Jesus transcends all religion, point us to an awareness of oneness with the Divine and serve as models for how we should see ourselves and serve all of humanity.

We realize that every person has individualized spiritual needs and that what we offer at COSMO may not meet you where you are. We also realize that many are looking for a new path; a new way of seeing themselves, the world and the Divine. If you’re a part of that latter group, the earth is groaning for you, and this is your call to action. 

Join the MOVEMENT that is Cosmopolitan Congregation. Your soul will thank you!