Eugene Cho-founded megachurch disaffiliates from Evangelical Covenant Church By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor.
The Seattle-based megachurch Quest Church has announced its departure from the Evangelical Covenant Church as it faced potential expulsion over the congregation's support for the LGBT movement.
Quest Pastor Gail Song Bantum posted a statement to Facebook on Monday to announce the church's decision to disaffiliate from the denomination after 21 years, citing the "ongoing pursuit of radical belonging for our LGBTQIA+ siblings." The church sent a formal letter to voluntarily disaffiliate on Monday.
"We have discerned that, to be the body of Christ, we must embrace the fullness of God's life in all of our members, including our LGBTQIA+ siblings. This belief emerges from our identity and values as an ECC church, not despite this identity and these values," stated Bantum.
"We leave the denomination grieved that the ECC refuses to recognize God's work in our midst, and yet hopeful for the ways the Spirit is moving in our community."
The ECC is a denomination of under 900 churches in the U.S. and Canada that dates back to its founding in 1885 by Swedish immigrants. Its website boasts that it has become "one of North America's most diverse racial and ethnic denominations."
Quest Church was founded by Pastor Eugene and Minhee Cho, who first held a gathering of 11 people in their living room and officially launched on Oct. 14, 2001, holding worship at a warehouse. CP.
