Hubie
07-20-2012, 12:42 AM
This is what you call a classic example of not learning a lesson.
http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_20975779/pastor-whose-congregation-dwindled-after-supporting-gay-marriage
Grace Community United Church of Christ will close its doors this weekend, but the pastor who says his decision to publicly support gay-marriage rights unwittingly thrust it on a path toward financial ruin plans to find a new home for his small congregation.
...
The church has about 125 members left, but often fewer than 30 show up on a given Sunday. Goodlow said 15 longstanding members met in recent weeks to discuss next steps, and they seemed committed to keeping the ministry intact, even if they have to find a new home.
The ministry moved from St. Paul's Midway area to the current location on Forest Street, a few blocks north of Phalen Boulevard, in 2001.
White said his church's financial problems started in 2005 after he voted to support same-sex marriage at the United Church of Christ's national synod.
Attendance in the pews immediately dropped off the next week, and soon, three-fourths of his sizable congregation was gone.
The departures took a financial toll, so the church took out a $150,000 loan in April 2007 to pay its bills, using the church building as collateral. The ministry owned the structure and owed no debt on the building at the time.
His first mistake was supporting gay "marriage." His second was using the church building as collateral against a risky loan intended to "pay bills."
And, of course, in light of the other thread I just posted, no one felt they had to sue this guy for his stance on the issue.
http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_20975779/pastor-whose-congregation-dwindled-after-supporting-gay-marriage
Grace Community United Church of Christ will close its doors this weekend, but the pastor who says his decision to publicly support gay-marriage rights unwittingly thrust it on a path toward financial ruin plans to find a new home for his small congregation.
...
The church has about 125 members left, but often fewer than 30 show up on a given Sunday. Goodlow said 15 longstanding members met in recent weeks to discuss next steps, and they seemed committed to keeping the ministry intact, even if they have to find a new home.
The ministry moved from St. Paul's Midway area to the current location on Forest Street, a few blocks north of Phalen Boulevard, in 2001.
White said his church's financial problems started in 2005 after he voted to support same-sex marriage at the United Church of Christ's national synod.
Attendance in the pews immediately dropped off the next week, and soon, three-fourths of his sizable congregation was gone.
The departures took a financial toll, so the church took out a $150,000 loan in April 2007 to pay its bills, using the church building as collateral. The ministry owned the structure and owed no debt on the building at the time.
His first mistake was supporting gay "marriage." His second was using the church building as collateral against a risky loan intended to "pay bills."
And, of course, in light of the other thread I just posted, no one felt they had to sue this guy for his stance on the issue.