SouthLake Church
Non-Denominational · Contemporary worship · Lake Oswego, OR
- Location
- Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034
- Denomination
- Non-Denominational
- Worship style
- Contemporary
- Size
- Medium
- Ministries & emphasis
- Contemporary
- Google rating
- ★ 4.5 (59 reviews)
What visitors say
The Christmas service was filled with pure joy, resembling a lively carols concert. We attended because we were visiting the state, and it turned out to be a pretty good church. It offered comfortable seating and free coffee. Interestingly, the service wasn’t crowded but still quite full on Christmas Eve. If we visit Portland again, we would definitely return there. Awesome family friendly church! Lots of programs for all ages . Caring, nurturing nursery up to active teen programs ! They also run a preschool during the week. Lots of action and activities for the kids. My granddaughters attend the preschool and they love it! I remember I think it was 2009, 2010, and 2011 I attended services here sometimes and they used to have a day of service at Roosevelt high School where they would get like school buses that would come to the church's parking lot and then take you to Roosevelt high School where we would paint the school some people would clean the school, I thought that was a really good way of meeting people, as far as the church goes and I was just looking at their website I was actually shocked to see that they just have one service now because if I'm not mistaken they had like three on Sunday mornings one on Sunday night and one on Saturday night back in like 2009, also I noticed Pastor KIP is still the pastor? Nothing against him whatsoever but wow what is he 72 or 74 years old now? I think he's been that like only pastor that the church has had in their multiple locations since like the 1980s. I wonder why he hasn't retired? Just one last two cents, if you're somebody that comes from a traditional background like Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian or something like that, you're probably going to find the style of service a little odd, music a little loud, I also remember there was like some pretty famous people well somewhat famous that went there like a couple Portland trail blazers a guy that used to play in the NFL goes there, several people like very high up in Nike's leadership. I love when I am asked to review churches by Google. I mean, what are you going to say. "I don't know about you, but the spirit really moved me here." Here's the thing, the people were nice, the building was nice. So over all - it was nice. About what you would expect, really. The building and facilities are top tier if not the finest in the Portland area. The parishioners are kind, gentle, welcoming, and invested. The childrens programs are amazing and would highly recommend it if not for the only issue with this church. Anytime you see a pastor at one church for over 30 years, you’re seeing something unusual, but not necessarily always bad. When someone is nearly a decade past retirement and still pastoring after those 30 years, it’s noticed. When the pastoral team all appear to be related to the lead pastor, kip, then it raises some eyebrows. It creates what’s called an echo-chamber. Regardless of the implied dictatorship, the sermons are where true colors are seen. Let’s start with the positives: * Jeff (Kip’s son) is a good pastor and is very approachable, and seems to have the reigns on him keeping him from being great. He could use mentoring by other four square church leaders. * Music worship is elite quality as is the sound and tech programs. * The amazing childrens programs are probably the one thing keeping the church alive. * Event coordination is fantastic and the lower ranks seem cohesive. The problem is when Kip takes the stage in his grey overly casual vest that he’s always wearing. Kip can best be described as a history professor or librarian at an old world Christian university. The man is well read and intelligent to be sure, if not undiagnosed with ADD. However, his sermons are scattered, chaotic, and dry. His illustrations are filled with self proclaimed righteousness and are very unrelateable. The average age of the audience are millennials/Gen X and he’s a boomer using boomer examples and trying to connect in a boomer way. Some of the turn offs also include uncomfortable demands for tithing including praying, “Fill these folks with grace so that they may give to the church…”. So if I use what little cash I have for groceries and gas and can’t tithe, does that exclude me from God’s grace or that I have no grace? The sermons feel more like a history lesson of the Bible, but exclude the nugget that the author, as blessed by God, intended for the reader. Instead we get dates and reformation training and rabbit holes about Martin Luther or Calvinism and stories of Christians killed by drowning in hot wax and then lit aflame by evildoers mocking the light of God. I hope Kip decides to retire and allows the church to morph and grow naturally. He would flourish as a religious studies professor. Instead I imagine criticism is argued and wrestled with rather than honored as David describes in Psalms.
Is SouthLake Church right for me?
SouthLake Church may be a good fit if you're looking for contemporary worship, a Non-Denominational church in Lake Oswego. Every church feels different in person — plan to visit a Sunday service, and check the church's website for current service times.
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