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ATTLEBORO - When Doug Bixby was a boy, his family moved every few years with the result that he had more exposure to more churches than most young people.

At various times, he attended Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches, and even was a member of a Roman Catholic youth group.

"You could say I was raised ecumenically," said Bixby, who recently became pastor of Evangelical Covenant Church, succeeding interim Pastor Robert McNaughton.

It wasn't until he was in college - and felt the call to minister - that he discovered the Evangelical Covenant Church and read its dicta, "Covenant Affirmations."

Bixby felt immediately he had found a home in a denomination where every last detail of Christian belief was not handed down in doctrine. Much seemed to depend on the individual defining his or her place in serving and glorifying God. Bixby was accepted into North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, and took up his first pastorship right after graduation at Salem Covenant Church in Connecticut, where he spent the next 15 years.

Pastor Bixby, who recently moved to North Attleboro with his wife Carolyn and daughters Katie, 12, and Kierseten, 9, said his preference has been being in a setting that's theologically "balanced" - neither too far right, nor too far left.

"It's in the center, where we can know God and serve God most effectively," he says.

A published author, Pastor Bixby's two books "The Honest To God Church" and "Challenging the Church Monster," reflect that belief.

Pastor Bixby said that while it was hard to leave his first church, he's delighted to be coming to a thriving, active parish. Besides its new pastor, the 300-member congregation is served by Associate Pastor Jay Fast, who focuses on ministry to youth and families, and a full-time music minister in Julie Stevens, who leads a number of praise and choral music groups.

Evangelical Covenant also hosts a busy nursery school called "Little Blessings" which is open to area residents.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.