Frequently Asked Questions

About Sunday morning worship…

• What time should I arrive?

The first worship song starts at 9:59am. Come early if you want donuts and juice. BCAY Sunday worship services happen Fall and Spring semesters when classes are in session.

• How long is service?

On average, we end before 12noon. Sometimes we end earlier or later depending on what happens during the service for that day. We make sure that service is done in plenty of time for you to go to brunch. On special days when our worship schedule runs significantly longer, we usually have food available after service.

• Is there music?

Yes! We express our love and devotion to God through songs of praise and worship.During our worship set we stand on our feet, clap our hands, raise our arms and bow our heads in reverence and adoration of our God. We lift Jesus up and give glory to God.

Our musical style ranges from contemporary Christian to gospel praise and worship. We have a talented team of vocalists along with a full band that consists of a keyboardist, bassist and drummer.

• What is the typical service format?

Our worship format is very simple, without a long list of rituals and traditions. We believe that the most important components of a Sunday service are the worship and the Word, so we give priority to these two elements. We aim to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which means that sometimes we may deviate from our regular schedule to give way for an additional worship song or a special moment of prayer.Once a month we celebrate communion through the Lord’s Supper. Also, we get a special performance from the remarkable Yale Gospel Choir once a month, as well.

• What is the typical service flow?

Our typical order of worship:

Praise and Worship

Welcome/Fellowship Period

The Word of God

Announcements/Offering

Closing Song/Benediction

• What are the demographics of your church?

We are a student run church, so BCAY’s congregation consists mostly of undergrads at Yale. However, we are open to graduate students, professors, staff and community members join our worship community.BCAY is a diverse congregation with a variety of racial backgrounds, ethnicities, nationalities and denominations represented. We are joined together not by the color of our skin, or our denominational affiliations.

Everyone is welcome! We are joined together by our love for Jesus Christ.

• What in the world is a “love assault?”

You never know how a hug, a smile or a word of encouragement can brighten someone’s day. That’s why at BCAY, we are unashamedly intentional about loving people.When you visit, expect to be greeted and hugged by many.

In fact, we have a moment in our service called the “love assault” where we stop everything, get out of our seats and find people to love up on.

• What are the Sunday morning sermons like?

We hold the Bible in high esteem, so we preach and teach directly from it. The Scriptures reveal to us God’s redemptive plan for humankind through the loving sacrifice of His Son Jesus.We gather on Sundays to hear a Word from the Lord concerning the direction and purpose of our lives, according to His will.

Sunday messages are relevant and practical. Multimedia is often used to convey illustrative points.

About church structure & beliefs…

• What denomination is BCAY?

BCAY is an independent, inter-denominational church, meaning that we have no affiliation with a larger denomination or convention. Members of our congregation come from a variety of denominational and religious backgrounds. We are drawn together by our love for Jesus Christ.

• What is the leadership structure of BCAY?

BCAY is a student-run church stewarded by the Core Student Leadership Team. Spiritual and organizational guidance is provided to students by the pastor and the ministerial team. The role of the pastor and ministerial team is equip the congregation for the work of the ministry, according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

All decisions affecting the direction, the vision, and the mission of BCAY are made in collaboration with the Core Student Leadership Team and the Ministerial Team. Decision-making is prayerful, Spirit-led and by consensus within the leadership team.

• How can I become a leader at BCAY?

On an annual basis, students have the opportunity to apply to become apart of the Core Team. Throughout the year, congregants are encouraged to serve on Dream Teams, the ministry departments of the church.

• What do you believe?

Our primary beliefs are consistent with traditional Christian beliefs found in the Apostles Creed.

Overall, we embrace the essentials of the Christian faith and allow liberty regarding non-essentials (speaking in tongues, baptism by water vs sprinkling, etc).

Essentials that we embrace:

The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God

There is one God existent in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

The deity of Christ, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Spirit

His death, burial and bodily resurrection from the dead

The depravity of man and the fallen nature of the world

Sola fide, justification by faith alone

Sola Scriptura, Scripture is only source for Christian doctrine, and is accessible to all

The present ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

Resurrection of the body, judgment of the living and the dead

• Do you have any formal stances or positions?

As an organization, we do not have any concretized institutional stances against certain practices or beliefs. We would rather define ourselves wholeheartedly by what we are for, rather than what we are against. Our singular focus is the miraculous power of Jesus to redeem individuals, communities and nations through His sacrificial love, demonstrated on the cross.