Non-denominational seminaries and church groups

[JohnH]

Non-denominational really just means "broadly Protestant" and then most "non-denominational" groups will be a subset of that. For example, Union Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but realistically serves mainline or liberal-progressive Protestants. Dallas Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but primarily serves evangelical churches who are comfortable with Calvinistic / Reformed doctrines.

There is a "non-denominational" church building where my grandparents spent most of their lives. It has an 1800s era state charter from the state legislature hanging on the wall there. It says it is dedicated to the people of that tiny town, with the one restriction that it may never be used for Catholic services (along with a reference to any other type of church service that acknowledges the Pope's authority).

Is it really non-denominational? I don't think so - it is just a building dedicated to use for a certain very broad subset of Protestants. (Yes, I get that technically it could be used for Eastern Orthodox services...)

[ohio jones]

Non-denominational really just means "broadly Protestant" and then most "non-denominational" groups will be a subset of that. For example, Union Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but realistically serves mainline or liberal-progressive Protestants. Dallas Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but primarily serves evangelical churches who are comfortable with Calvinistic / Reformed doctrines.

An alternate description might be multi-denominational or inter-denominational, which can of course include the non-denominational denomination.

[Ken]

Non-denominational really just means "broadly Protestant" and then most "non-denominational" groups will be a subset of that. For example, Union Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but realistically serves mainline or liberal-progressive Protestants. Dallas Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but primarily serves evangelical churches who are comfortable with Calvinistic / Reformed doctrines.

There is a "non-denominational" church building where my grandparents spent most of their lives. It has an 1800s era state charter from the state legislature hanging on the wall there. It says it is dedicated to the people of that tiny town, with the one restriction that it may never be used for Catholic services (along with a reference to any other type of church service that acknowledges the Pope's authority).

Is it really non-denominational? I don't think so - it is just a building dedicated to use for a certain very broad subset of Protestants. (Yes, I get that technically it could be used for Eastern Orthodox services...)

I expect that sort of deed (or charter) restriction would be just about as enforceable in this day and age as deed restrictions prohibiting the sale of a piece of property to Blacks or Jews.

[JohnH]

Non-denominational really just means "broadly Protestant" and then most "non-denominational" groups will be a subset of that. For example, Union Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but realistically serves mainline or liberal-progressive Protestants. Dallas Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but primarily serves evangelical churches who are comfortable with Calvinistic / Reformed doctrines.

There is a "non-denominational" church building where my grandparents spent most of their lives. It has an 1800s era state charter from the state legislature hanging on the wall there. It says it is dedicated to the people of that tiny town, with the one restriction that it may never be used for Catholic services (along with a reference to any other type of church service that acknowledges the Pope's authority).

Is it really non-denominational? I don't think so - it is just a building dedicated to use for a certain very broad subset of Protestants. (Yes, I get that technically it could be used for Eastern Orthodox services...)

I expect that sort of deed (or charter) restriction would be just about as enforceable in this day and age as deed restrictions prohibiting the sale of a piece of property to Blacks or Jews.

I would expect you are wrong.

[JayP]

I bet it would stand. Hating Catholics and Jews is still sport in some places.

[JohnH]

I bet it would stand. Hating Catholics and Jews is still sport in some places.

Religious institutions have a right to say their nonprofit foundation assets will only be used for their uses that align with their religious beliefs. I don’t think that’s the same thing as “hating”.

I would not ever contribute funds to my own church if they had a risk of eventually being misused to support popery.

[Ken]

Non-denominational really just means "broadly Protestant" and then most "non-denominational" groups will be a subset of that. For example, Union Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but realistically serves mainline or liberal-progressive Protestants. Dallas Theological Seminary is non-denominational, but primarily serves evangelical churches who are comfortable with Calvinistic / Reformed doctrines.

There is a "non-denominational" church building where my grandparents spent most of their lives. It has an 1800s era state charter from the state legislature hanging on the wall there. It says it is dedicated to the people of that tiny town, with the one restriction that it may never be used for Catholic services (along with a reference to any other type of church service that acknowledges the Pope's authority).

Is it really non-denominational? I don't think so - it is just a building dedicated to use for a certain very broad subset of Protestants. (Yes, I get that technically it could be used for Eastern Orthodox services...)

I expect that sort of deed (or charter) restriction would be just about as enforceable in this day and age as deed restrictions prohibiting the sale of a piece of property to Blacks or Jews.

I would expect you are wrong.

I suppose they can rent to who they want.

I'm just suggesting that a state charter to that effect would no longer be valid. Any more than a state seal on a deed restriction prohibiting sale of a property to Blacks or Jews.

[JohnH]

The deed for the property and the corporation's bylaws (which back then had to be approved by the state legislature; nowadays anyone can apply to the Secretary of State for a corporation and write any bylaws they want, essentially) say that the use of the building/property is for the "People of <Town Name>" to be used for Christian religious services, but with the requirement that the services cannot be Catholic.

I don't see how that would be remotely illegal. Churches have bylaws and charters all the time that restrict them to a particular denomination or set of denominations.

[Neto]

I expect that sort of deed (or charter) restriction would be just about as enforceable in this day and age as deed restrictions prohibiting the sale of a piece of property to Blacks or Jews.

I would expect you are wrong.

I suppose they can rent to who they want.

I'm just suggesting that a state charter to that effect would no longer be valid. Any more than a state seal on a deed restriction prohibiting sale of a property to Blacks or Jews.

Here's a case here in Holmes County: Over the years our congregation has started a number of 'sister congregations', and my wife & I were involved in one of them. I was on the building search committee, and we went and looked at a number of buildings that were available. There was also a church house in the area where quite a few of us wanted to locate that had been empty for some time already. We contacted the neighboring church that owned the building, to see if we could rent it. About that same time a previous plant from our main congregation also contacted them, to ask if it was for sale. The person who answered us said that the no longer existing congregation had passed a resolution way back in the mid 60's that said that the building could never be sold or rented to any other type of church group, and the land could not be used for anything other that a residential lot. So, soon after our inquiries, they tore it down. I think that was at least 10 years ago, and that lot is still empty. Could someone later change the deed restrictions? I don't know how difficult that is, but I would imagine that eventually that will happen, because there are businesses nearby along the state highway where it is located.

I can understand not wanting to sell the building, because once you do that, it can then later be resold, and it might end up being a bar, or, like the school house where my Dad attended school, a dog kennel. This reasoning is especially common among those who view the church house as somehow 'holy'.

[JayP]

One of my pet peeves is tht calling you out JohnH for your bigotry is considered a personal attack by the board moderator.
But I guess that just reflects his position.