The Gospel Coalition (TGC) has sparked a lively discussion after an article on its Australian site suggested that married couples consider sitting apart during worship. The piece, originally titled “Spouses, Please Stop Sitting Together,” was later revised to “Spouses, Consider Where You Sit At Church.” It argued that congregants might better advance the Great Commission by mingling with others rather than clustering with family.
Dave Moore, executive pastor of Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle, Australia, urged readers to “re‑imagine” church attendance. He emphasized that “church is for others” and that couples should view Sunday services as a “deployment” rather than a date. Moore noted that while family seating can model healthy relationships for children, it can also reinforce cliquishness. He suggested that couples could simply say they prefer not to sit together to avoid being perceived as cliquey.
In response, TGC contributor Griffin Gulledge of Fayetteville First Baptist Church in Georgia published a rebuttal on November 11. Gulledge clarified that TGC’s international sites operate with independent editorial teams, each adhering to the organization’s Foundation Documents. He argued that the Bible does not mandate families to separate during worship and that unity should be the default picture of Christian fellowship.
The debate highlights differing interpretations of how congregational seating can influence community building and evangelism. While some see diverse seating as a way to broaden outreach, others view it as a potential disruption to family worship practices. TGC’s editorial note acknowledges the title change and notes that both the Australian and U.S. sites have published related content.
Source: The Christian Post
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
