Who We Are

About Koinonia

What Koinonia Means 

Welcome to Koinonia.  Koinonia is pronounced “Koy-nä-NEE-ah.”  It comes from the Greek verb koinoneo, meaning “I share,” “I communicate,” “I commune with.”

In the original Greek, Paul used the word, “koinonia,” in 1 Corinthians 1:9, Philippians 2:1, and Acts 2:42 to mean, “fellowship in the spirit of Christ.”  It is also found in the books of Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and Peter.  Today, you will find words like fellowship and communion used in our more familiar English translations.

The History of Koinonia in the Grand Valley

The Koinonia Community has its roots in Grand Valley Church of the Brethren, founded in 1897. Outgrowing the first building built in 1900, the congregation built a larger one near the corner of 24th and H Roads in the Appleton area. They changed the name to the First Grand Valley Church of the Brethren, as other Brethren churches were built in the valley. That church was destroyed in a fire in February, 1917, but a new structure, erected at the same site, is still standing today.

In the early 1960’s, the congregation acquired 4 acres of property at 25 and G 3/8 Rds. and built the present A-frame building, hopeful that moving closer to town would attract more young families. Ten years later they began a cooperative effort with the First Baptist Church in Grand Junction to revitalize the church’s program with five families from First Baptist who joined the congregation. They chose the name Koinonia to signify that both groups sought a “fellowship in Christ” as Paul wrote about in the New Testament. They drafted a constitution, and hired the first minister, Ronald K. Harris, who was the assistant pastor at First Baptist. Leaders of the Church of the Brethren and the American Baptist Churches, USA, participated in the restructuring agreements, and Koinonia remains aligned with both denominations, which have common values and a similar history beginning in the Anabaptist Movement of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. The two denominations are affiliated at the national level.

In the 1980's a long-range planning committee assessed the needs of the growing congregation and designed an addition which doubled the size of the present building and offered opportunities for new program development. This new wing of the church was dedicated in 1985.

 Statement of Inclusion

As a people of faith in the teachings of the Christian tradition, the Koinonia community offers a spiritual oasis of love, compassion, and acceptance to all who come here. We welcome and affirm people of every cultural and religious background, sexual orientation, family composition, level of physical and mental ability, level of economic means, race, age and gender.

Koinonia belongs to the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB), Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Interests (BMC), and is officially aligned with the Church of the Brethren and American Baptist Churches USA.

A Place of Acceptance

Our church is an accepting place that offers persons of all ages: 

• Encouragement and opportunity to question and seek spiritual growth
• Learning experiences that enrich and challenge
• Fellowship that is both formal and informal
• Support in times of difficulty and stress
• Service through involvement in important issues
• Worship that is meaningful and uplifting

We value each individual and foster respect for diversity.  We practice our faith through our daily life choices and through active involvement locally and in the world.

top

Denominational Background

The Koinonia community is in closest agreement with the progressive voices of the larger Christian Church.  In our own search for wholeness and spiritual meaning, we respect the diversity in others’ paths, and join them in living our common values of love and compassion in the world.

The Church of the Brethren and the American Baptist Churches, USA, are officially affiliated on the national level.  The Brethren in Germany and the Baptists in England were part of the Protestant Reformation Movement in the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  They promoted the ideas of religious freedom, freedom of individual conscience, and the separation of church and state.  They refused to confine their faith to a human statement or formal creed, grounding their faith in the New Testament as a whole and encouraging all to search the scriptures for guidance.

The Church of the Brethren is one of the three historic Peace Churches (along with the Mennonites and the Quakers) and seek to follow Jesus’ example in an active, non-violent approach to oppression.  They try to simplify their lives and practice a modest non-conformity, exploring their daily life choices within the faith community.  Service to others is their way of living their faith.  Though small in numbers nationally, they have begun projects which became interdenominational and international.  Church World Service, CROP, and Heifer International are examples of these efforts.  President Kennedy studied Brethren Volunteer Service when he was establishing the Peace Corps.

The American Baptists are known for their strong defense of civil and religious liberties. American Baptist ministers, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rev. William Sloan Coffin, are examples of courage, faith, and inspirational leadership.

Both denominations have been active in service and seeking justice in the world.  They cooperate with other mainline churches in ecumenical efforts, and are members of the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches.

Koinonia honors the roots of our faith traditions which have taught and practiced the values of love, compassion, forgiveness, peace, service, justice, and living together as a discerning community.

top

What We're About

KOINONIA: THE COMMUNITY 

ANOTHER WAY OF LIVING…..

                      SIMPLY, PEACEFULLY, TOGETHER

Koinonia is an inquiring faith community seeking a relevant expression of 21^st century spirituality that manifests the compassion, justice, and interfaith understanding of the Christian tradition.  Our understanding is that a pertinent spirituality will affirm all truth wherever it might be found, whether it be in science, different world faiths, our inner experience of truth and beauty, or in scriptures.

At Koinonia we celebrate an approach that emphasizes the journey over the destination and the questions over the answers.  We see diversity in views, beliefs, and lifestyles as gifts to be appreciated and explored.  As we learn from one another, that learning informs and motivates our service to the world and enhances our own spiritual growth.

Koinonia’s vision of the future is one of wholeness and peace.  Our understanding is that Jesus was correct when he taught that the path of meaning and fulfillment entails extending love, peace, and creativity to the world around us. We therefore take as our watchwords the simple motto, “Love God, Love People, Celebrate Life, Pass it on!”

top