Hi, I'm an American student who is going to spend the next year in Lausanne. I'll be at a religiously affiliated university which will offer religious services within our house, but I would like to get involved with a local church to help me become a part of the community if at all possible. I've been doing some research but coming up a little short. None of the churches seem very much my ideal because I've grown accustomed to the nondenominational American style.

I grew up in a very conservative church in Oklahoma which really just had a lot of problems with doctrine and how it treated women in particular, so I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder when it comes to a very conservative tradition that prohibits women leadership, even when it is done lovingly and with the very best of intentions.

I was hoping for some general information about the churches in the area. I would like to go to a protestant church because I'm so unfamiliar with Catholic traditions that I would be lost. I could do an English-speaking or a French-speaking church.

So, if you have any information just let me know. Thank y'all.

Hi,

Are you by any chance going to be studying at Pepperdine?

If so, my church, Lausanne Free Church, is about 5 minutes walk away in Chemin de Fleurettes. However I guess we're what you define as 'conservative', as we don't allow women to take teaching roles with adults (however all the Sunday School teachers and the leaders of the children's group are women). You can find us on Google. We're a small but very international church. We have your basic 'hymn sandwich' service, and the aim is to keep things as simple as possible so that people from all sorts of backgrounds can come in and hopefully not find anything too alien. If you'd like to give us a try, you'd be very welcome.

Or perhaps you might be interested in Westlake, which meets in St-Sulpice. I've never been there myself, and I don't know much about it... but I think it may be closer to what you're looking for. However a quick look on their website tells me all the leadership team are, once again, male.

On the French-speaking side, there's a church just down the road from Lausanne Free Church. Their services are earlier than ours, and from the sound of things as I walk past they have a more, shall we say, modern style of worship. I'm afraid I don't know the name of the church but if you're interested I'll have a look on Good Friday and get back to you.

All the best in your search,

Victoria

It's worth pointing out that Switzerland is a highly secular society and if you want to become a member of the community, a local church isn't really the right way to go about it. Unlike what I've experienced in America, the churches aren't the lynchpin of the community. Joining an association that relates to your interests is probably more effective.

If you want to do some more research on Westlake church as VLH22 mentioned, here is the website. Some neighbours go there. It is in St. Sulpice which is west of Lausanne after the EPFL along the lake.

Link: http://www.westlakelausanne.com/

Hello, there... I grew up in Kansas and can relate! I'm attending a French-speaking Methodist church in Lausanne (Place de la Riponne 7). The people are quite friendly, though the community is small and lacking young people (except for me). Services are at 10 on the first floor.

There is also an English-speaking congregation, very international, that meets in the same space at noon. Perhaps this would be a good option for you. Good luck with the search, and don't hesitate to be in touch if I can be of further help!

I forgot to mention that I'm a woman and an ordained minister, so I get your concern for the treatment and recognition of women in the church. One of the reformed churches in Lausanne has a female pastor, as well as an Anglican church. The Scottish Presbyterian church should be a decent place as well, though I've not personally visited these communities myself (just seen the clergy in meetings). Good luck!

ICF Lausanne may be a good option.

I don't know them but watched a TV news programme about them some months ago. Seems quite dynamic and full of young people.

Quite evangelical though (not my cup of tea but maybe yours). They may do some celebrations in English in Zurich and Geneva but I am not sure about the Lausanne branch.