My Night at an Australian Apostolic House Church: Honest Reflections from an Anglican Visitor

My Night at a House Church

An Anglican's Journey into the Australian Apostolic House Churches

Tonight's Reflection

The Experience

I did something a little out of the ordinary for me—tonight I visited a new home church, part of the Australian Apostolic House Churches network on the Gold Coast. The gathering kicked off at 6:30pm, and when I left at 9, things were still going strong! The evening was full: we shared a meal, prayed together, sang three songs, prayed some more, celebrated holy communion, and listened to people share their testimonies.

There were about 25 people there, all very down-to-earth and welcoming. The food was great, and the atmosphere was warm and relaxed. Coming from an Anglican background, I'm used to a more structured liturgy, so some of the prophetic elements were new to me. But I appreciated the authenticity and the way everyone was encouraged to participate.

"What really stood out was the intimacy of the group—small, supportive, and genuinely invested in each other's lives." 

Honest Reflections

Honestly, I craved more theological depth and scriptural reflection, rather than just personal stories, though I get the focus was on connecting with newcomers. I did notice a lack of experience among some leaders and participants; at times, it felt like there wasn't much genuine understanding of what was being shared, and the overall atmosphere made me a little uneasy. Good thing I didn't mention being gay—otherwise they might have tried to "sage" me out! It was an interesting experience, and I wish them well, but it wasn't for me.

It's worth mentioning that home churches aren't inherently Anglican, though they can certainly exist within the Anglican tradition. The Anglican Church, with its structured liturgy and emphasis on sacraments, can accommodate house church models—especially in a post-COVID world—provided there's appropriate oversight and structure.

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Deeper Thoughts on Church Structure

All of this has made me reflect on the whole idea of house churches. It's not the concept of Christians meeting in someone's home that gives me pause, but sometimes the broader "house church movement" itself, which can attract people with very strong, and not always well-considered, theological opinions.

At the same time, I struggle with how much power is often given to priests, pastors, or ministers in more traditional church settings. I don't believe that's what Jesus or Paul had in mind for the church. The Bible seems to point away from the idea of religious roles being reserved for a select few, but simply dismissing the value of trained and recognised leaders isn't the answer either.

"We shouldn't kid ourselves that church is something straightforward, or that we can just strip away the layers of complexity created by established institutions and expect everything to work perfectly in a home setting."

I have a real appreciation for tradition, and maybe that's part of why I'm interested in exploring different ways of doing church. Still, what I really long for are queer preachers and the unique energy and presence they bring.

Honestly, if I stumbled across an Anglican community run by someone like that, I’d be out of my local church St James before you could say “Sunday brunch”—no drama, just a classic Irish goodbye. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a soft spot for my current church, even if they act like letting me volunteer would crash the church WiFi. At this point, my best shot at the tea roster is probably turning up in full Archbishop cosplay. 

Your Turn

Have you ever been to a house church? What was your experience? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!