Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York City)

Hunter College auditorium, one of Redeemer's meeting places

Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA), founded in 1989, is a church located in New York City. Its senior pastor is Timothy J. Keller.

History

Christianity Today has called Redeemer "one of Manhattan's most vital congregations." The church does not own a building, yet it currently draws around 4,400 attenders to its services each Sunday on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side. Through its church planting center, Redeemer has helped start over 100 smaller churches in the New York metropolitan area. In a 2006 survey of 2,000 American church leaders, Redeemer was named the #16 most influential church in America. Redeemer has attracted members of the public such as young professionals, yuppies, doctors, bankers, lawyers, artists, actors and designers, many of which are in their 20s and 30s.

In 1998, Tim and Kathy Keller wrote to The New York Times in response to an article, explaining that Redeemer was neither "hardline" nor "fundamentalist." The couple argued that whereas fundamentalist churches stress political issues and are hostile to the surrounding secular culture, Redeemer focuses on the "character, ministry and work of Jesus" and promotes a "highly positive view of New York City with encouragement to live here as good neighbors." The Kellers claim that these qualities "set [Redeemer] apart from the conservative megachurch movement, from 20th-century fundamentalism or from modern mainline Protestantism."

With respect to "planting" or starting new churches in urban areas, The New York Times has reported that "pastors from around the world are beginning to come in a steady stream to New York City to glean what they can from Dr. Keller and Redeemer."

External links

• Redeemer Presbyterian Church
• Redeemer City to City
• The Movement: RCPC e-newsletter
• unofficial Tim Keller web page
• Reason for God website