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| Brooklyn Tabernacle | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brooklyn Tabernacle |
| Location | Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States |
| Denomination | Non-denominational Evangelical |
| Founded | 1847 (congregation lineage) |
| Senior pastor | Jim Cymbala, Carol Cymbala (music) |
| Capacity | ~4,300 |
Brooklyn Tabernacle is a non-denominational Evangelical congregation located in Brooklyn, New York City, New York (state). Known for a large worship center, an internationally recognized choir, and extensive urban ministries, the congregation has become a notable presence among American megachurches, evangelicalism, and charismatic movement communities. The church's profile intersects with national religious institutions, media outlets, and civic organizations in the United States.
The congregation traces lineage to a nineteenth-century church in Downtown Brooklyn and evolved through periods of revival and decline similar to many urban churches in United States history, intersecting with events such as the post-World War II urban migration and the rise of Pentecostalism and charismatic renewal. In the late twentieth century the church grew under pastoral leadership that emphasized prayer movements comparable to revival trends associated with figures like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and organizations such as the National Association of Evangelicals. The building that now houses the congregation is situated near landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge and developments in DUMBO, Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights, reflecting broader patterns of urban redevelopment similar to those in Harlem and Chelsea, Manhattan.
The congregation adheres to evangelical doctrines and charismatic practices broadly consonant with beliefs held by leaders in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability-affiliated network, echoing tenets found in writings by C. S. Lewis and contemporary pastors like John Piper and Tim Keller. Worship services incorporate hymnody and contemporary praise influenced by traditions represented by Hillsong Church, Saddleback Church, and Calvary Chapel. The church emphasizes prayer movements, Bible teaching from translations such as the New International Version and the King James Version, pastoral counseling practices resonant with those at institutions like Focus on the Family and seminaries such as Princeton Theological Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary.
Senior pastoral leadership has included figures who engaged with national religious conversations alongside leaders such as Rick Warren, Andy Stanley, and Joyce Meyer. Music leadership and pastoral staff have interacted with choral directors and worship leaders in networks that include Martha Graham-era innovators and contemporary worship figures comparable to Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman. Administrative governance draws on models seen at Willow Creek Community Church and other large congregations, with staff development similar to programs at Bethel Church and training institutions like Moody Bible Institute.
The church's choir gained international recognition performing choral arrangements in styles comparable to ensembles associated with Gospel music greats such as Kirk Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, and Aretha Franklin. The choir has received awards and accolades in forums analogous to the Grammy Awards and worked with producers and arrangers linked to the broader American music industry, intersecting with recording practices at studios in Nashville, Tennessee and Los Angeles, California. The music ministry has influenced contemporary worship trends alongside organizations such as Bethel Music, Passion Conferences, and Integrity Music.
The worship center sits within an urban campus comparable in scale to facilities of Riverside Church and Calvary Baptist Church (New York), featuring sanctuaries, rehearsal spaces, classrooms, and administrative offices. The site is proximate to transportation hubs including the New York City Subway and institutions like Brooklyn College and the Barclays Center, situating it within a civic and cultural matrix similar to those around Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center. Recent capital campaigns mirror fundraising efforts seen at major houses of worship and cultural institutions such as Carnegie Hall.
The congregation operates social programs addressing urban needs including food distribution, addiction recovery ministries, and literacy initiatives, cooperating with local agencies akin to City Harvest (New York) and networks resembling Samaritan's Purse and World Vision in humanitarian outreach. Programming targets populations served by organizations such as New York Cares, United Way of New York City, and public partners in Kings County, New York and municipal departments in New York City Government.
As with many prominent urban congregations, the church has faced scrutiny regarding finances, governance, and theological positions, inviting comparisons to debates involving megachurch accountability exemplified by controversies surrounding leaders like Ted Haggard and institutions such as Mars Hill Church. Critics in media outlets and civic forums have raised questions similar to those posed about religious organizations in the context of zoning, tax exemptions, and public influence, engaging stakeholders including New York City Council members, legal bodies like the Internal Revenue Service, and watchdog groups comparable to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
Category:Churches in Brooklyn Category:Evangelical churches in New York (state)