Petaluma Christian Church

I visited Petaluma Christian Church at 1160 Schuman Lane this Sunday, June 19 (Father's Day). This congregation of about 100 members with a weekly average attendance of around 60 boasts a lively worship and solid Bible-based sermons under the leadership of Pastor Bill Linton. In addition, they held a wonderful Father's Day breakfast which I immensely enjoyed.

Many might not guess this church is one of the oldest in Petaluma, with small groups meeting in homes starting in 1865. After renting some halls, they purchased a building bordered by Western, Post, and English Streets, and expanded it into a church building, and further expanded it over time. Eventually, Petaluma Christian Church sold the building and purchased the property at 1160 Shuman Lane. The old church building is in the process of fund-raising to complete the Poly Klass Theater by the City of Petaluma.

Petaluma Christian Church shares some roots with the Church of Christ in the Restorationist Movement. Starting in the mid-1800s, divisions began occurring within the Churches of Christ, sometimes over musical instruments and sometimes over other issues. Eventually some began using the name Disciples of Christ in preference to Church of Christ, and many started using the name "Christian Church," with the name of the town before it. Petaluma Christian Church comes out of this tradition, though, as I best understand it, it no has formal ties to the Disciples of Christ.

Though they share similar roots, there is a sharp contrast between the Petaluma Church of Christ, with no musical instruments in their worship, and Petaluma Christian Church, which embraces musical instruments in their worship.

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