Presbyterians start new downtown Oklahoma City church

The Rev. Doug Serven, 41, the church's lead pastor, said the church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America, a denomination that has set a goal of increasing church plants in the next several years. He said the denomination's southwest church-planting network, based in Dallas, is sponsoring City Presbyterian, which one day hopes to plant other churches.

Serven said he and another church leader, the Rev. Bobby Griffith, began meeting with a core group of about 30 people in Serven's home several months ago. He said the group had several preview services at locations throughout the downtown area — Bricktown Brewery, SandRidge Energy's auditorium, First Lutheran Church — before the launch at Frontline.

Serven said the preview services were held downtown because church leaders have always known they wanted to plant the ministry in the urban hub.

“With the MAPS projects, Bricktown, Devon, the Thunder and the revitalization of MidTown, it's just an awesome time to be in downtown Oklahoma City,” he said.

“We don't want to scoot out to the suburbs. We want to be here. That means rejoicing in Oklahoma City's success and entering into Oklahoma City's brokenness, because as much as Oklahoma City has all the success, there are still people that are hurting and in need.”

Griffith agreed.

“We wanted to identify with Oklahoma City and show that we are here to serve and just try and join in the journey,” Griffith said.

Serven said about 275 people attended the church's first service in the Frontline building.

Both he and Griffith, 34, said they hope to draw all kinds of people to the new church.

“We hope to be a place where people with hard, honest questions can feel like they are heard and their questions are answered,” Griffith said.

Serven and Griffith said City Presbyterian's services are a blend of old and new traditions.

Griffith said the services are liturgical, and clergy wear traditional robes. He said the church also will feature traditional hymns sung to contemporary-style music.