Quick Facts
Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable
Various
Founded
Unknown
Denomination
American Baptist / UCC dual affiliation
Service Times
Sunday mornings (check website)
Men's Ministry
No
Kids Ministry
Yes
Pastor Credentials
N/A
10-Point Theological Scorecard
Christology
Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Scripture
Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Men's Discipleship
Intentional formation for men?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Soteriology
Faith alone? How is salvation presented?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Gender / Biblical Design
Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Egalitarian. Women pastors, LGBTQ-affirming.
Disqualifier
Leadership Structure
Male elders/pastors? Accountability?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Preaching Style
Expository or topical/therapeutic?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Mission Clarity
Great Commission central?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Cultural Alignment
DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Accountability Structure
Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
Disqualifier
Assessment
Riverside Church in NYC is a historic progressive mainline church. Affirms LGBTQ inclusion, women clergy, and progressive social justice as core mission. While historically Christian, the theological framework has moved far from biblical orthodoxy — social gospel dominates. LGBTQ-affirming, feminist theology, and social justice ideology replace biblical authority. BLACK — apostate progressive mainline.
#progressive#mainline#new-york#lgbtq-affirming#black-rated
Sources & Evidence
Enrichment Notes
[2026-05-19] MOOP rubric: UCC — affirming since 2005. Already rated black.
No URL sources recorded for this church. Rating based on denominational defaults and/or directory-level metadata.
Transparency note: MOOP ratings are researcher judgments about publicly available theological and ecclesial evidence. They are not infallible. If a church's public posture has changed since our review, or if we've mis-read evidence, tell us — we publish corrections.
Last reviewed:
2026-05-16
— Annual review recommended
New York, NY
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