Seattle is a weird place for religion. Honestly, it’s one of the most unchurched cities in the United States, yet for decades, a massive congregation known as City Church of Seattle defied those odds. If you lived in the Pacific Northwest during the early 2000s, you couldn't miss them. They were everywhere. They had the big screens, the loud music, and a brand of charisma that felt more like a tech startup than a traditional cathedral.
But if you go looking for "City Church of Seattle" today, you're going to get a bit confused. The signs are gone. The website redirects. Why? Because the church didn't just fade away; it underwent one of the most significant rebrands in modern evangelical history.
What Happened to City Church of Seattle?
The short answer is that they are now Churchome.
In 2018, the leadership decided to ditch the "City Church" moniker entirely. It wasn't because of a scandal—which is usually the case when a megachurch rebrands—but rather a shift in how they viewed the future of worship. Lead pastors Judah and Chelsea Smith realized that the "city" part of their name felt a bit too geographically limiting. They wanted to go global, and they wanted to do it through an app.
It's a wild pivot. Think about it. You have these massive physical campuses in Kirkland, the University District, and downtown Seattle, and you decide the future isn't a building. It's a smartphone. This shift transformed the identity of the City Church of Seattle from a local powerhouse into a digital-first community.
The Rise of the Smiths and the Celebrity Connection
You can't talk about this church without talking about the Smiths. Judah Smith took the reins from his father, Wendell Smith, who founded the church back in 1992. Wendell was an old-school pioneer, but Judah brought a different kind of energy. He’s the guy you’ve probably seen on Instagram hanging out with Justin Bieber or Russell Wilson.
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That celebrity proximity changed the vibe of the church. It became a magnet for young professionals and creatives in Seattle. People weren't just showing up for the theology; they were showing up for the culture. It felt relevant. It felt like something that actually belonged in the same city as Amazon and Starbucks.
A Different Kind of Message
The preaching style at City Church of Seattle was always less about "fire and brimstone" and more about "Jesus is your friend." This "Jesus-focused" approach—specifically focusing on the humanity and grace of Christ—resonated deeply with a younger demographic that was tired of the political baggage often associated with American Christianity. They simplified everything. They made it accessible.
But this approach isn't without its critics. Some theologians argue that the "Churchome" model thins out the complexity of faith. When you move everything to an app and focus on "snackable" sermons, do you lose the grit of real-life community? That's the billion-dollar question facing the Seattle congregation today.
Navigating the Controversy and the Culture
Living in Seattle means navigating a very progressive social landscape. For a large church like City Church of Seattle, this has always been a tightrope walk. They’ve often stayed quiet on hot-button political issues, which is a strategy in itself. By focusing almost exclusively on "the person of Jesus," they managed to attract a diverse crowd, but they also faced pressure from both the left and the right.
Some former members have spoken out about the "megachurch" feel—the idea that you can be in a room with 3,000 people and still feel completely alone. That’s a real thing. The church tried to solve this with "Common Interest" groups, but as they transitioned to the Churchome model, the emphasis shifted even further away from the traditional "small group in a basement" feel.
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The Kirkland Roots
The heart of the operation was always the Kirkland campus. It’s this massive, state-of-the-art facility that felt more like a concert venue. Even as they expanded into Seattle proper, the Eastside remained the engine room. When the rebranding happened, many longtime attendees felt a sense of loss. They missed the "City Church" identity that felt rooted in the rainy streets of the PNW.
The Tech Pivot: Is Churchome Still a "Seattle" Church?
When the church launched the Churchome Global app, they basically signaled that they were leaving the "local church" category behind. They wanted to be the church for people who don't go to church.
- Accessibility: You can watch a 5-minute sermon while waiting for a bus.
- Community: There’s a digital lobby where people from London can chat with people from Ballard.
- Anonymity: You can engage without the pressure of being "seen" by a greeter at the door.
This move was incredibly prescient, considering it happened right before the global pandemic of 2020. While other churches were scrambling to figure out Zoom, the former City Church of Seattle was already living in the digital future. They had the infrastructure. They had the content. They were ready.
But there is a trade-off. Seattle is a city that craves authenticity. There’s something deeply "Seattle" about a brick-and-mortar gathering on a Tuesday night in a drafty building. By going "Global," some feel the church lost its "Local" soul. The name change wasn't just marketing; it was a declaration of a new, borderless philosophy.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
People often assume that because the name changed and the focus went digital, the physical locations closed. That’s not true. You can still go to a service in the Seattle area. The buildings still exist, and the lights still turn on every Sunday.
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However, the intent has changed. The physical locations are now more like "hubs" for the digital community. It’s a hybrid model. If you go there expecting a traditional denominational experience, you’re going to be surprised. It’s high-production, high-energy, and very focused on the "home" aspect of their new name.
The Financial Reality
Megachurches are expensive. Maintaining the level of production that City Church of Seattle was known for requires a massive amount of capital. Critics often point to the wealth of celebrity pastors, and Judah Smith hasn't been immune to that scrutiny. Yet, the church maintains that their financial model is what allows them to offer their digital resources for free to millions of people around the world. It’s a polarizing topic, but one that is central to the story of any large-scale religious organization in the 21st century.
Actionable Steps for Exploring the Church Today
If you're looking to connect with what used to be City Church of Seattle, don't just show up at an old address you found on a 10-year-old blog post. The landscape has shifted.
- Download the App First: If you want to understand the current "Churchome" vibe, start with the app. It’s the purest expression of their current mission.
- Check the Kirkland Schedule: If you want the "big room" experience, the Kirkland campus is still the primary physical touchpoint. Verify service times on their official site, as they frequently shift based on filming schedules for their global broadcasts.
- Research the "Church in Your Home" Concept: The church now encourages people to host "Churchome" gatherings in their own living rooms. This is the "actionable" part of their new name—taking the "City" out of the church and putting it into the "Home."
- Look Beyond the Celebrity: While the media loves to talk about the famous faces in the front row, the core of the congregation is still made up of regular Seattleites—tech workers, baristas, and families. If you visit, talk to the volunteers. That’s where you’ll find the actual pulse of the community.
The evolution of City Church of Seattle into Churchome is a case study in how tradition meets technology. It’s a story of a local community that decided the "city" was no longer big enough. Whether you love the new direction or miss the old days, there’s no denying that they’ve fundamentally changed the way people in Seattle—and now the world—think about going to church.