[P-Marlowe]

You know, the majority of those 'edifice' building churches (southern baptist for example) frequently plant house churches while in the mission field.

I have never been in an "elaborate" Southern Baptist Church edifice. Is there such a thing?

Would you prefer that we just close all the churches?

Well it might eliminate a lot of the contention on this thread if they all closed on Christmas. :-)

[JamesP81]

I have never been in an "elaborate" Southern Baptist Church edifice. Is there such a thing

Come to think of it, can't say that I have. My church's building is fairly elaborate for a protestant church I suppose (but I think this is more a function of its size as anything else. The sanctuary will seat around 900 at a time, and that's a lot for a church in a town with 400 people. It's even more when you consider that sunday attendance between both morning services usually about 1600). But whether such a thing exists or not I don't know. Still, AFAIK, most churches like southern baptist are registered as non-profits and have 'professional' clergy in the sense that that is all they do. In my church, I think the pastor is the only one that works in the church full time as such (he also farms on the side, but he's not a full time farmer). The deacons have regular full time jobs on top of their duties as deacons.

Well it might eliminate a lot of the contention on this thread if they all closed on Christmas

Well, maybe. I still think it would send the wrong message, though.

[luckystarmom]

Go check out the Baptist churches in Texas. Very elaborate!