The Associated Press

CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio - A Christian church in central Ohio buys into the idea that parishioners no longer have to enter God's house to worship. The parking lot is close enough.

Gender Road Christian Church in this community about 13 miles southeast of Columbus offers an informal 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning service in its parking lot.

Parishioners are encouraged to sit in their cars or in lawn chairs.

They can tune to an FM frequency on their car radio and listen to the 45-minute service without rolling down their windows.

The pastor conducts the service from a hay wagon outside the church. A different soloist or music group performs each week.

Parishioners say they like it because it's casual. They can come in comfortable clothes and drink coffee during church.

Some who sit in lawn chairs find the parking lot even more spiritual than the sanctuary.

"It's very nice because you're out in nature while you're listening to the minister," said Donna Crabtree, 45, of Canal Winchester. "It's just very serene, I think."

Others like the fact that once the service is over, they're on the road again.

Gail Garner, 64, a longtime church member from Westerville, said the service works with her schedule.

"We're boaters," she said.

"So now we're out on the lake earlier."

Garner added that sitting in her car added to her personal religious experience.

"I feel it's more private somehow," she said.

"And yet you still have the fellowship of other people."

The Rev. Kay McGlinchey, associate pastor, said the parking-lot prayer might boost membership.

"We're just hoping this will attract some people who might be afraid to come inside a church," she said.

Gender Road isn't alone in its attempt to be more flexible.

Central College Church in Westerville has been offering summer drive-in services for 30 years, said John Lane, business administrator for the Presbyterian congregation.

Lane said as many as 350 worshippers show up each Sunday, sometimes bringing pets.