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Covenant Church: Houston June 15, 2008.

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Covenant Church

Houston 1 June 15. 2008

Denomination BAPTIST (SORT OF) Minister JEREMY RUTLEDGE Address 4949 CAROLINE Phone 713-668-8830 On the Internet COVENANT HOUSTON.ORG Services SUNDAYS AT 9:00 A.M. AND 11:30 A.M.

After two and a half years, the time has come for this series of reports to reach a close. For the most part, my approach to the pleasant assignment of observing the faith bases of my fellow Texans has been that of a sociologist of religion, my professional academic role for forty years. But, in response to a question I am often asked, I am also an amateur worshipper with a "church home" of my own, one that I attend simply for the love of it. For this, my last installment, I'd like to tell you about it.

The sign outside the church's contemporary facility in Houston's Midtown/ Museum District identifies it as "Covenant Church: An Ecumenical Liberal Baptist Congregation." An unlikely combination, perhaps, but Covenant makes a persuasive argument for being what it claims to be. The Web site and weekly program of worship assert a broad ecumenism by announcing that the church welcomes "persons of all racial and ethnic heritages, all sexual orientations, and all faith perspectives to our Christian...