Where are you located?
We are located at 4105 Crowell Rd., Turlock, California. This is the intersection of Christoffersen Pkwy. and Crowell Rd., one block north of the California State University at Stanislaus. See the map!

When do you meet?
We meet for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays. During the school year we have Conection -- Adult seminars, Sunday School for children, and a group for teens -- 9 - 9:50 a.m.

What makes Cornerstone unique?
We have more in common with other Christian churches than we have differences. But what makes us unique is the combination of conservative biblical theology with freespirited acceptance of all who trust in Christ and seek to live under the authority of the Bible. This acceptance doesn’t require doctrinal conformity on issues such as mode of baptism, the nature of the Lord's Supper, or the chronology of the end times. In order to live with the tensions that this diversity creates we place a great deal of emphasis on our unity in Christ and living out that unity in loving relationships.

What are your worship services like?
When you visit us you'll find other people like yourself—a few dress up but most prefer relatively casual attire. In our Sunday morning worship celebration you'll find both contemporary and traditional music. We work hard to create an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance as we worship the Lord together.

What do you believe about the Bible?
We believe that the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, is God's Word and the only perfect guide for faith, doctrine, and conduct. The Bible plays an important role in the life of our congregation. Preaching is Biblebased and individuals are encouraged not only to study the Bible personally but to be a part of a small group or Sunday School class which is exploring the scriptures.

Is Cornerstone independent?
Our congregation is a part of an extended church family called the Evangelical Covenant Church. Each congregation in the Covenant is autonomous but we recognize that there are some things that we can do better if we're in association with other likeminded congregations. Together we send out missionaries, run Bible camps (including Frontier Ranch at Mission Springs Conference Center in Scotts Valley), start new churches, and operate health care and retirement facilities (including Emanuel Medical Center, Brandel Manor, and Covenant Village). We also own and administer North Park University and Theological Seminary in Chicago.

What is the Evangelical Covenant Church?
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an extended family of churches with more than 110,000 members and 750 plus congregations in the US and Canada. In addition there are related Covenant churches in Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Europe, and throughout Latin America. Our roots are firmly set in historical Christianity as it emerged in the Protestant Reformation, in the biblical instruction of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, and in the great spiritual awakenings of the nineteenth century. We emphasize basic Christian beliefs and just as importantly the living out of these beliefs.

Are you catholic?
The word catholic refers to the common or universal faith. In the broadest sense we are catholic because we see ourselves as carrying on with the faith that was handed down by the apostles. At times we use some of the common Christian creedal statements in our worship and they include the word catholic. But we are not Roman Catholic. We are Evangelical Protestants who recognize that we are a part of what God has been doing in his church throughout the ages.

Are there other Evangelical Covenant churches in the area?
There are about 130 Evangelical Covenant churches in California. Locally, there are congregations in Modesto, Hilmar, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Riverbank, Stockton, and Tracy. Two other Turlock congregations, Iglesia del Pacto Evangélico and Turlock Covenant Church, are active parts of our extended church family. Turlock Covenant Church was responsible for the birth of Cornerstone in 1994.

Can we get married in your church?
Right now our policy is that we do not rent the facilities out for weddings and we only officiate at weddings for people who are somehow connected to the church. We don’t yet have the resources to do all of the marriage preparation, counseling, and the oversight that goes with doing weddings for the general public. If you are interested in a church wedding come be a part of the church and you’ll find a supportive community that will be with you throughout your lives together.

A lot of churches are struggling with the issue of sexuality. Where do you stand on issues of homosexuality and couples living together before being married?
One of the best responses to these questions is a statement adopted by the annual meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Click here to read it.

Our former pastor, Brad Boydston, has a short paper on cohabitation on his website.

How is Cornerstone organized?
As with all Evangelical Covenant churches, we are organizationally autonomous from the denomination. The local church is in charge of calling pastors and administering its own affairs. The everyday operation of the church is delegated to the pastor and church council. The council consists of 12 men and women who are elected by the congregation for two year terms. The council appoints committees to oversee and effect ministry in various areas such as outreach, Christian education, finances, and facilities. On all levels of our organization we attempt to be sensitive to the leading and direction of the Lord.

Are women involved in church leadership?
In Evangelical Covenant churches women are involved in all areas of leadership. Our conference superintendent is a woman. And a woman has been the chair of our congregation. For a fine biblical discussion on women in leadership click here.

How many people are involved in Cornerstone?
There are about 300 people involved in the life of the congregation. We average about 180 in attendance for worship. There are about 160 members.

How often do you have communion?
Generally speaking, we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday morning of each month.

How do we join the church?
Membership is open to those who trust Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and who are willing to affirm that the Bible is “the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct.” We have a membership orientation session about once every three months. Then applicants meet with members of the Church Council to share their stories of coming to faith in Christ. The final step is a vote by the congregation.