Congregation turns to prayer as Washington Cathedral faces foreclosure SEATTLE

[rsmith6621]

http://redmond.komonews.com/news/religion/691933-congregation-turns-prayer-washington-cathedral-faces-foreclosure


A Redmond congregation could face foreclosure if it doesn't find more than $3-million by next month.

Hundreds of people filled the seats for the 11a.m. service at Washington Cathedral on Sunday.

"We don't always understand why a crisis takes place," said Pastor Tim White standing on stage, facing his congregation.

For 27 years, the church has helped people in different ways.

"Literally turned my life around," said Paul Cook, a member of the church.

[Arctic Dave]

1. A twenty four million dollar church?

I'm sorry but I can't muster sympathy for them. Thats not a church, that is an ego temple.

[RKP5637]

2. $24M = Religion, Inc. IMO n/t

[The Genealogist]

4. Ego temple: good choice of terms

I live about 1/2 mile from one of these megachurches. I cringe to think how much money they've dropped into that place, money that would feed a LOT of poor folks, house homeless people, and more. But no, instead there sits that ostentatious, sprawling monstrosity in a sea of asphalt. And that is only one local megachurch. A lot of local Christians do feed and clothe homeless people, and make sure the poor get some food and assistance. But so much more could be done with that money that goes into those "ego temples."

[pnwmom]

3. I've never heard of Washington Cathedral, which is funny,

since it appears to be about 10 minutes away. I wonder if the Church had a different name before it decided to over-expand?

[Missy Vixen]

5. We used to attend Washington Cathedral

We left because the attitudes of church leaders did not echo what we value in life.

I am very sorry to read this, but I am not surprised in the least.

[provis99]

6. Holy smokes, did they ever get greedy.

How should I feel sorry for a church that went into debt so they could have a cafeteria, a library, and a frickin indoor soccer field? good grief, It's supposed to be a church, not a frickin Las Vegas attraction.

[Missy Vixen]

8. The pastor had a "vision".

Pastor White is a nice person, but this has been going on for a long time now. We attended Washington Cathedral during their first building program, which was probably in the mid '90's. The church started out meeting in a school cafeteria. Having a permanent building was nice. They built offices for the staff further up the hill, for those who live in the Redmond, WA area.

I knew things were headed downhill rapidly when the pastor started talking about constructing a fountain in the sanctuary. They patterned themselves after Schuller's empire. We also had a major disagreement over homophobia in the church's leadership. I told the pastor to his face and in person that we would be leaving as a result.

Shortly after we left, the current building program started. I have no idea why they thought a pool would be a great idea - just insuring it each year must cost a fortune, aside from the other amenities they now have.

Unfortunately, I believe Washington Cathedral will go the way of the other overfinanced and underattended "super-church" in Redmond, Overlake Christian Church.

[WildNovember]

10. Go what way, you mean reduced attendance?

[Missy Vixen]

12. Reduced attendance, reduced revenues

Overlake CC has had financial problems for quite some time as well, if the articles I've read in the Seattle Times are any indication.

There's also that thorny little problem of those of us who will not patronize or financially support any organization that widely advertises their "divorce ministry" (check out how many times in the Bible it's written that God hates divorce, for instance,) but will not countenance any acceptance of LGBTQI attendees.

:eyes:

[WildNovember]

13. One of the Overlake pastors also got booted for fiddling with boys as I recall.

But I think the biggest thing hitting the mega-churches is the recession and the realization that God doesn't help you find another well-paying job when the entire economy is in the toilet. And possibly the well-heeled parishioners don't help so much either. Not sure how much of a real community those churches are to people not on the same level financially.

[Missy Vixen]

15. Oh, Bob Moorhead

My husband is a volunteer at a local police department. The LEO he worked most closely with at that time also attended Washington Cathedral, and was one of the officers investigating Mr. Moorhead's adventure with another male in a park rest area.

Our ex-pastor insisted there was no impropriety. He said he knew the pastor, he was a great guy, and he would continue supporting him as a result. Let's just say it was the straw that broke the camel's back for all of us.

We know another of OCC's youth pastors was accused of impropriety with underage kids.

Finally, the pastor that succeeded Moorhead (the head of the Promise Keepers, IIRC,) left as a result of alleged issues with church finances.

>Not sure how much of a real community those churches are to people not on the same level financially.<

This was the second and last church I attended in the midst of a huge building program. You're right - those with the money make the rules, get the attention, and the pastor doesn't want to bother with you if you are not one of his high-dollar donors. In my opinion, it's worse than a country club. After all, country clubs don't use religion to mask their greed.

The other weird thing was the fact that the written and unwritten rules were bent when it was a family that gave large sums of money to the building program. In other words, we saw some real witch hunts re: "spiritual life" and "moral failings" if it was someone who wasn't a heavy donor.

[boppers]

7. God doesn't pay for indoor soccer fields? Wow.

Imagine that.

[piratefish08]

9. excuse me while i do this

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[piratefish08]

14. p.s.

:puke:

[WildNovember]

11. Seems like it's a scam in several ways; the parishoners pay the church, which builds & builds,

then the church goes into foreclosure and someone picks up the property and building for less than was put into it.