In the news:
Church May Finance Ministry by Selling Its Windows
Dwindling income and attendance have prompted the church to consider selling its Tiffany windows to fund its ministry.
ELIZABETH, N.J. -- At the turn of the last century, this city was a thriving industrial powerhouse and the congregation at St. John's Episcopal Church reflected the city's success.
The church's most prestigious families commissioned 10-foot-tall stained-glass windows from Louis Comfort Tiffany to adorn its massive stone walls. Today, the church's 100 or so members don't come close to filling its 700 seats. The once-hefty endowment has dwindled, and donations from the congregation cover the utilities and little else. Which leaves the windows.
My opinion is that true worship does not require elaborate or costly settings that could put a financial burden on the congregation.
http://www.religionnews.com/index.html
2007-04-17 07:45:39 · 8 answers · asked by Micah 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Well, you are right. Worship and religion in general don't need all the "fancy fixings"..but in fact, most major religions and churches have great wealth.
Have you ever been to Vatican City? The Temple in Salt Lake City? Some of the grand Cathedrals in Europe?
Christianity sometimes speaks from both sides of its mouth. Most have forgotten Jesus' words to Simon Peter where he said to "give away your worldy goods and follow me. I will make you a fisher of men."
2007-04-17 08:35:01 · answer #1 · answered by kimtenly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Episcopal Church is a direct descendant of the Catholic Church. Have you seen the opulence on display by that organized religion? With millions of adherents starving the Pope and his cronies are literally billionaires. (Mother Teresa too.) This was the root of Protestantism. Unfortunately the Episcopal Church didn't split due to this but rather due to Henry VIII wanting a divorce, so the Episcopalians/Anglicans didn't follow suit on addressing the iniquity of wealth.
2007-04-17 16:01:31 · answer #2 · answered by Peter D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, you are right. Worship and religion in general don't need all the "fancy fixings"..but in fact, most major religions and churches have great wealth.
Have you ever been to Vatican City? The Temple in Salt Lake City? Some of the grand Cathedrals in Europe?
Christianity sometimes speaks from both sides of its mouth. Most have forgotten Jesus' words to Simon Peter where he said to "give away your worldy goods and follow me. I will make you a fisher of men."
I know that - and I'm not even a Christian.
2007-04-17 15:07:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
lol, it sounds to me like God is forcing them into the poverty they were supposed to adopt voluntarily.
I mean, God is in control of everything, right? So that means their tiny congregation is God's will. Besides, they are part of one of the wealthiest organizations on the planet; if they can't get the mother church to help them out then God is really telling them something.
2007-04-17 15:10:41 · answer #4 · answered by w34p0n2m4n 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think new jersey needs to have a revival
that place could use it . why is the congrgation dwindling instead of growing?
hmmmmand they should preserve the sanctuary if it is historical
2007-04-17 15:11:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You worship God by loving each other. God is everywhere and does not need a building. material things are man's invention and some people feel that by having more they are glorifying God.
2007-04-17 16:58:57 · answer #6 · answered by krupsk 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Develop some common sense,
And realize that Religeon is fake.
2007-04-17 14:53:20 · answer #7 · answered by Cattlebat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion is man's idea. God is in your heart.
2007-04-17 14:53:57 · answer #8 · answered by surffsav 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋