JohnH wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 10:28 pm
I would agree, although I expect that within 20 years Keystone will have the same standards around instruments during weddings/special services that BMA does today (assuming it is still distinctively conservative at all).
BMA seems to be rather congregational on that issue, unlike others. Some do, some don't, and "conjoint meetings" are supposed to be acapella.
Unlike BMA we use a bishop/pastor/deacon form of ministry and are much more connectional than BMA.
I've been in BMA meetings were instruments were used. My feeling is, that's their call. Each conference in congregation has to set its own standards, ours happens to be that all music will be a cappella.
I don't really see a problem with people who play instruments at home, listen to music with instruments in it on the way to/from church, bring guitars to youth events and strum them, etc. with playing instruments during worship services as well.
Ernie wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 10:12 pm
This is a thread to discuss buildings bought from other denominations, buildings repurposed for religious uses, or even new construction.
The first building I was involved in repurposing as a church was for one of the congregations I related to while in college. They were located way out in the country, in a building that might have been bought from another denomination now that I think of it, not entirely certain of that history. But the building was old and they wanted to have more connection with the community, so when a grocery store in a nearby town came up for sale they jumped at the opportunity. Along with the move they changed the name; I thought Bread of Life Mennonite Church would have been appropriate but we were unable to produce agreement on that.
Since then I've seen churches move into a variety of buildings: a hardware store, strip shopping centers, an elementary school, a nightclub, and a mall department store are some that come to mind.
The Tidings of Peace school building used to be a union hall used for conducting dances. That history always seemed a little odd to me, but apparently union halls used to host dances.
ohio jones wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 11:35 pm
They were located way out in the country, in a building that might have been bought from another denomination now that I think of it, not entirely certain of that history.
According to a 1905 history of the county, it was indeed a Methodist church originally.
JohnH wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 11:42 pm
The Tidings of Peace school building used to be a union hall used for conducting dances. That history always seemed a little odd to me, but apparently union halls used to host dances.
Edit: the old school building.
The current school building used to be a school; then it was used as storage for the school district.
Building does have interesting acoustics. And joining a song service will certainly be a major pleasure. But don't expect to hear organ music. If somebody attempts to introduce organ music during one of the services, I will personally take an ax to it. I have a personal commitment from the rest of the ministry that under no conditions will that organ ever be played during a service, or during an official church gathering.
Surely there is a way to disable the organ, without taking an axe to it. That seems a bit extreme. Dismantling it and recycling the metal parts would be better. Is anyone allowed to play it at any other time outside of church services and official church gatherings? As one who had an organ in our home for many years, (Hubby bought it at a sale for $25 dollars) I would be in my glory if I could play an organ like that, just by myself.
Ernie wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 10:12 pm
Buildings Plain Anabaptists Use for Church Endeavors.
Meeting places for worship. Schools. Mission endeavors, etc.
This is a thread to discuss buildings bought from other denominations, buildings repurposed for religious uses, or even new construction.
Our church met in homes, a rented room at the YMCA, a Lutheran church basement and maybe one other location I have forgotten. In the early 2000's we bought the current building, an old sweater factory that had been almost abandoned since the 60's. There was still the remnants of manufacturing machinery in the basement, the windows were broken out and squirrels had moved in.
From my position on various boards over the years I have tried to keep it as open and factory like as possible as that has maximized flexibility and usefulness. I'm gradually loosing that struggle as more stuff get built in permanently but I guess that's how things progress.
Building does have interesting acoustics. And joining a song service will certainly be a major pleasure. But don't expect to hear organ music. If somebody attempts to introduce organ music during one of the services, I will personally take an ax to it. I have a personal commitment from the rest of the ministry that under no conditions will that organ ever be played during a service, or during an official church gathering.
Surely there is a way to disable the organ, without taking an axe to it. That seems a bit extreme. Dismantling it and recycling the metal parts would be better. Is anyone allowed to play it at any other time outside of church services and official church gatherings? As one who had an organ in our home for many years, (Hubby bought it at a sale for $25 dollars) I would be in my glory if I could play an organ like that, just by myself.
This is a huge pipe organ. Dismantling it and getting it removed would cost in the neighborhood of $15,000. Yes, it can be played when rhe building is otherwise empty. We have a policy that instruments will not be played when the church is open. If people choose to violate this policy, measures will be taken to ensure that it does not happen again. I think everyone knows not to try me on this one.
Ernie wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 10:12 pm
Buildings Plain Anabaptists Use for Church Endeavors.
Meeting places for worship. Schools. Mission endeavors, etc.
This is a thread to discuss buildings bought from other denominations, buildings repurposed for religious uses, or even new construction.
Our church met in homes, a rented room at the YMCA, a Lutheran church basement and maybe one other location I have forgotten. In the early 2000's we bought the current building, an old sweater factory that had been almost abandoned since the 60's. There was still the remnants of manufacturing machinery in the basement, the windows were broken out and squirrels had moved in.
From my position on various boards over the years I have tried to keep it as open and factory like as possible as that has maximized flexibility and usefulness. I'm gradually loosing that struggle as more stuff get built in permanently but I guess that's how things progress.
That’s a good position to take, and I have observed a general short-sightedness with trying to construct church or school buildings in ways that become laughably obsolete in 10-20 years. There is something to be said for both timeless approaches to construction but also to conserving the original heritage and character of a building.