UCCan Talk Another big UCCan amalgamation

[Mendalla]

Three congregations in Halifax, the youngest of which is a century old, are amalgamating in Halifax. The article says they will ultimately sell off two of the buildings, hopefully to someone who will use the building rather than knocking it down. I know we have talked about the trend to amalgamations on here for as long as the site has existed, but this feels like a big one. Thoughts? Anyone familiar with any of these? My wife and I went to the UU church when she lived down there since she was walking distance and liked the place but that meant I never really explored the UCCan options there.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/future-of-3-halifax-churches-in-question-as-congregations-amalgamate-9.7265398

 

[Jaebius]

Three congregations in Halifax, the youngest of which is a century old, are amalgamating in Halifax. The article says they will ultimately sell off two of the buildings, hopefully to someone who will use the building rather than knocking it down. I know we have talked about the trend to amalgamations on here for as long as the site has existed, but this feels like a big one. Thoughts? Anyone familiar with any of these? My wife and I went to the UU church when she lived down there since she was walking distance and liked the place but that meant I never really explored the UCCan options there.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/future-of-3-halifax-churches-in-question-as-congregations-amalgamate-9.7265398

The Church, I believe, is Christ's living body, called to proclaim the gospel with boldness.

If faith's flame's dwindled to embers, Mendalla, no architecture can save people.

Spiritual apathy's the enemy. The danger's when congregations forget to be very alive in Christ.

The gospel's God's power unto rescue.

If these Halifax churches are to thrive, they must merge hearts in repentance. Prayer. Mission! Let the Spirit rise!

 

[Mendalla]

Slogans don't save organizations. Or people, for that matter. Lets put the architecture aside. Lets assume they sell all three buildings and rent space in a community centre for worship services (I know churches that do that). They invest some of the money in a trust to pay the rent and a minister. The rest is available for missional work. Now what? What specific actions will enable them to "proclaim the gospel with boldness" and "merge hearts in repentence"?

 

[Luce NDs]

Slogans don't save organizations. Or people, for that matter. Lets put the architecture aside. Lets assume they sell all three buildings and rent space in a community centre for worship services (I know churches that do that). They invest some of the money in a trust to pay the rent and a minister. The rest is available for missional work. Now what? What specific actions will enable them to "proclaim the gospel with boldness" and "merge hearts in repentence"?

It is a real question for many ... and in self-centered ness maybe they'll never get out of their own mess ...

I struggle with the observations of hostility ... and they tell me I'm hostile ... that's diversity ... so we can look one another over.

Hopefully someone somewhere learns something about the fractures ... does it break you up? Then that laughter in the shadows ... howlers?

So much monkeying around ... then they say I'm out of it! Let us look into it from here ...

 

[Luce NDs]

What do you suppose mortals were meant to learn from this while isolated from a state of integral nature ... as if we were all mysteriously connected ... but didn't know it? Would such a state cause us to re evaluate a conflicted situation?

Some emotionally loaded individual will attempt something questionable ... and some of us will try and investigate ... with results that may disturb given the interference ... the mortal conundrum?

Is a conundrum a life enigma ... something to work your way through for doubtful answers? This observation due to the people that would like to put down anything but their concerns ... thus any news is target to silence ... cause it might prove to be negative to the tyranny ... the corruptive forces within ...

It may cause many prophets and visionaries to vanish ... some one asked what we did to these presently unseen multitudes ... it may have been the reality of the condition ... not healthy? Borderline Personality Disorder ... edge, or fringe folk! Should we look after those ?

Can we stand such questions?

 

[Jaebius]

Slogans don't save organizations. Or people, for that matter. Lets put the architecture aside. Lets assume they sell all three buildings and rent space in a community centre for worship services (I know churches that do that). They invest some of the money in a trust to pay the rent and a minister. The rest is available for missional work. Now what? What specific actions will enable them to "proclaim the gospel with boldness" and "merge hearts in repentence"?

Dance into the streets. Sing into the night. Preach with fire. Serve with humility. Love with abandon!

That's how those three congregations truly become one in Christ's body

 

[Mendalla]

I was always led to believe missionary faith was strong on action but that's really just more slogans, not actionable items save on the broadest level.

Marching in their Pride parade and having a booth in the Pride festival is real action (churches here do that). And also includes some dancing in the streets and singing into the night as well as some loving with abandon. Heck, maybe even some preaching with fire if they become active advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.

Running or assisting with meal distribution to shut-ins and/or the homeless is real action and covers off the serving with humility.

And so on.

That's where action meets slogans in my books.

 

[Luce NDs]

Is there something above and beyond slogans ... maybe beneath and supporting?

Just waiting to be set aside by those preferring to look after the anonymous self ... the 1 at the core of their attention?

I watched this collapse in several institutions ... concern was no well distributed ... more factors that remain beyond us ... requirement for growth!

 

[chansen]

It's clearly difficult for the remaining members. I understand a lot of meaning and memories are tied to these churches.

Architecturally, I'm sure the two structures being considered for the amalgamated home both need extensive repairs which have been put off. The sale of two properties may cover the costs, but who can afford to rehabilitate those other structures which are undoubtedly just as bad or worse? I expect they will be demolished.

 

[Jaebius]

I was always led to believe missionary faith was strong on action but that's really just more slogans, not actionable items save on the broadest level.

Marching in their Pride parade and having a booth in the Pride festival is real action (churches here do that). And also includes some dancing in the streets and singing into the night as well as some loving with abandon. Heck, maybe even some preaching with fire if they become active advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.

Running or assisting with meal distribution to shut-ins and/or the homeless is real action and covers off the serving with humility.

And so on.

That's where action meets slogans in my books.

The church’s mission's preaching with fire. Serving with humility. Loving with abandon! It's dancing in the streets when joy overflows. Kneeling in the dust when sorrow weighs heavy!

When we march, feed, sing, and serve in the Spirit's power, then the slogans become flesh. The Word becomes deed.

That's when the world sees Christ moving through His people

 

[Luce NDs]

It's clearly difficult for the remaining members. I understand a lot of meaning and memories are tied to these churches.

Architecturally, I'm sure the two structures being considered for the amalgamated home both need extensive repairs which have been put off. The sale of two properties may cover the costs, but who can afford to rehabilitate those other structures which are undoubtedly just as bad or worse? I expect they will be demolished.

A lot of old stuff has to go in some circumstances if one is to make peace ... and then many don't wish to ... why many drink to forget ... imagine the implications! At my age I mostly stick to the artificial beer ... cold but not that lifting ... but it doth go down ...

 

[JayneWonders]

One of the challenges may be that you have quite different theologies and practices.

 

[Mendalla]

One of the challenges may be that you have quite different theologies and practices.

Yep. That's likely why we have two large United Church congregations a block apart in downtown London. Differences in history and outlook, though maybe that has shifted now. Met used to be more mainstream conservative, First-St. Andrew's leaned more liberal/progressive (at least when I went there for a spell).

 

[Mrs.Anteater]

I have never been to these churches. I wonder if they are historic enough to preserve the buildings.
Down at the western shore, the French shore, there are huge churches in little villages- and they are closed, falling apart because they can’t pay for the upkeep.

 

[Luce NDs]

The concepts and awareness behind grand structures are sometimes baffling ... if you happen to delve into the raising of something on a stick ...

Maybe it is a bitter herb to swallow for some hidden reason? Should we look deeper into things that are fed us whether physical, mental or emotionally fired? What could come forth from such quest ... thus the venture in life to wake the dead ... recall who is most comfortable and their destiny ...

Then there are politicians that get rich very quickly and they defy your questions ... what are they dedicated to most? It seems to be well defined if you look deeper ... follow the Monet ... but do not speak to it directly or you could see a brick wall ... the powers do close down quickly!

Consider Lindsey Graham's alteration ... a wake-up? Comes on like an essence from nowhere ... and there they were no longer present ... just the way they were ...

It depends on how you present yourself as people who read of past things deeper ... they become more profound and the present loses them ... as there is so much to reconnoitre in history ... it is consuming and the physical structure can't stand ... as we begin to observe the self-consumption as we eat at our actual being on the road to disposal ... as we didn't learn enough ... about the metaphorical values ... given truth is a bit shaky ... how to shore it up?

Something must be extracted and thus exhortation and exorcism ... it is just how it goes ... you must give it a bit of time ... ponder that and you may be reduced to a puddle ... that's flo' ... and everything shall come to pass if you back up and observe better ... the world is a sad state because of self-adsorption ... look out a bit ... resolution is beyond you ... experience the confinement with some agitation ... given what the powerfully contained have lost ... the entire meaning of a greater life?

The need to expand and grow out of what you were ... self-consuming and officious? Seeing this is demeaning ... and you realize how little you count to the entire collective if not supportive of the hidden portions ... thus we light for a bit and pick a bit ... like raptures and other birds ... having a cause ... to rise from the thickness ... complexity personified in a body coming through ... some are lost!

Could it be that they don't see the value in differentiation of skills ... to make larger wheels to slow down the turn ... there people fall into the core for a restart ... the story is well rounded and deep ...

There is a news article in the Atlantic and CNN about reading and mulling skills ... more people function without digging into why ... and thus a effect of numbing down ... with exceptions of a few that don't ... thus word is retained extensively with those out therein the arid domains ... the powers turn "ID" into a "t" and thus crucify the past ... they do not wish to identify with much ... as learning in some domains is painful ... it comes down to that ...

It is how some of us go departed ... and some are stuck without ... just nothing to them! Bubbles for carriers ... an entire different study of the emptying of the soul ... roundabout process ... like the turn of a compass ... 4 pts. and pivot? What's beneath that?

Quest ... like a soap ... always awash ...

 

[JayneWonders]

I'm sure this thread resulted in a long dream last night.

It included and old small organ, which had a cupboard attached. In that cupboard was birth registry and announcement . It went on and on with someone contacting folks, donations, the lack of interest by staff, minister, etc. quite involved dream

 

[chansen]

I have never been to these churches. I wonder if they are historic enough to preserve the buildings.

Wouldn't that reduce their value because buyers would be restricted in what they could do with the properties?

 

[Mendalla]

there are huge churches in little villages- and they are closed, falling apart because they can’t pay for the upkeep

Yeah, I think the situation is going to be different for a closure in a rural area vs. urban. Here, an abandoned church is going to either be bought for the property (i.e. knocked down and redeveloped) or turned into something. We've got one in the West end that's a restaurant now (was some kind of medical clinic for a while, too). If anything happened to Metropolitan, it's now been renovated for use as a concert hall so it might become one. But in a rural area where there's less demand for large, rezonable properties, it would be a different story. I've heard of people buying old churches in rural areas for businesses or even homes but that depends on having the right buyer at the right time.

Wouldn't that reduce their value because buyers would be restricted in what they could do with the properties?

That's always the battle. If it is historic, there's usually covenants involved. Though some only require preserving the exterior. Depends on your local council and administration.

 

[Luce NDs]

Yeah, I think the situation is going to be different for a closure in a rural area vs. urban. Here, an abandoned church is going to either be bought for the property (i.e. knocked down and redeveloped) or turned into something. We've got one in the West end that's a restaurant now (was some kind of medical clinic for a while, too). If anything happened to Metropolitan, it's now been renovated for use as a concert hall so it might become one. But in a rural area where there's less demand for large, rezonable properties, it would be a different story. I've heard of people buying old churches in rural areas for businesses or even homes but that depends on having the right buyer at the right time.


That's always the battle. If it is historic, there's usually covenants involved. Though some only require preserving the exterior. Depends on your local council and administration.

We are dealing with such nonsense that at one time someone belived to be logic ... times do change contrary to the stick-in-the mud ...

In other cases the item is a million dollar mess ... because of lack of foresight .. and the triad declared we shouldn't go there ... supported by collective blindness ... thus the compass evolved! Yet ... we haven't accepted the pivot ... nor any other similar word ...

However I am told I should be silent about the delinquency about progressive logic ... so there we are stuck! That is not a moving message is it?

 

[Mrs.Anteater]

Wouldn't that reduce their value because buyers would be restricted in what they could do with the properties?

It might give them public money to preserve them?