Scum of the Earth Church
| Scum of the Earth Church | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | US |
| Denomination | Non-denominational |
| Website | scumoftheearth |
| History | |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder(s) | Mike Sares, Reese Roper |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Mike Sares |
Scum of the Earth Church (SOTEC or Scum) is a non-denominational urban Christian local church located in Denver, Colorado's arts district, in that city's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Its name is taken from 1 Corinthians 4:11-13, which includes Paul the Apostle's statement, "We have become the scum of the earth." As of December 2014[update], the Denver church was led by pastor Mike Sares.
SOTEC's founding aim was to create a ministry to young individuals who perceived themselves as outcasts, and therefore might not feel welcome at traditional Christian churches, individuals including goths, the pierced and tattooed crowd, punk rockers, and skateboarders, and it has attracted these, as well as the poor and homeless, ravers, and urban artists (and diverse other groups including students and academics, and immigrant and blue-collar families). Currently, the vision of Scum of the Earth is to be an outpost on the perimeter of God's kingdom seeking redemption in Jesus Christ. SOTEC uses a wide array of methods and activities to communicate its message, including bible study groups and podcasts, ministry programs to meet material and relational needs of congregants (food, shelter, guidance), artistic expressions that include exhibitions of art and poetry, as well as various other classes, groups, and activities.
Its pastors and others have described SOTEC as being evangelical in its theology, perspectives, and approach to ministry, and the church is a member of an association in the United States, the Alliance for Renewal Churches. Its impact extends beyond its local church ministries, in that its name and focus have drawn wide attention, leading to its being a point of discussion in relation to the Emerging Church movement, and in other venues discussing modern Christian ministry to young people and in urban settings.
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