Free Reformed Church of Calgary - Calgary

Life saving experience

Great place of worship. Blessed by Pastor Overduin ministry.

If you are looking for true spiritual connection, with love in action as once delivered to the saints, this is not the place for you. If you are a white male, that enjoys the privilege of your whiteness and maleness, and use this to wield power over women and children, then this is the place for you! I have no idea what possessed me to attend such a place, but my family and I did, from 2011-2014. The church seems to attract those that are big on doctrine and church attendance, but shockingly low on decency, kindness, love, respect, forgiveness, and empathy. I sought help for some extremely concerning family struggles, only to be left unheard, shamed, and indirectly blamed for them. And when my ex spent seven-weeks at the Calgary Dream Centre, not one person went to visit, even though it was less than 6 months since out departure. Not one person! (But to be fair, I did receive seven meals, but not one visitor even though I was all alone with our five children). It is of my opinion that the pastor is no more than a hireling, concerned with other matters than the actual role of a church. In addition, they repeatedly fail to take appropriate action when church discipline is required. Although they present the gospel, and sing Psalms only (which I do appreciate), they fail miserably in actual caring for the needs of the church members, even when there are children involved. The leadership is extremely patriarchal (women are not allowed to vote, but hats are optional), and sexist (women are a subjugated group, under the authority of their husbands, and seen as inferior to men in leadership within and outside the church). In a nutshell, the church can really only be described as legalistic and unloving.