[CFrance]

Originally Posted by looneycat

a non denominational service run by christian pastors, that speaks of God in christian terms is not nondenominational, it just serves all the christian variations..uh, denominations, sorry. yes I've been there, nice building, it should make a great playhouse. as far as bashing, you asked for info you got the most expedient method for ascertaining an answer, over and out bucko!

I beg to differ:

Non-denominational is a term that indicates that a person or organisation is not restricted to any particular or specific religious denomination. The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism,[1] Baha'i Faith,[2] Zoroastrianism,[3] Islam,[4] Christianity,[5] Judaism,[6] Hinduism,[7] Buddhism[8] and Wicca.[9] It stands in contrast with a religious denomination.

[OldManTime]

The Chruch on the Square now belongs to a non-profit called "Abundant Life Ministries inc" and doubt if services will be suspended.

P.S. stilled controlled by the Morse family.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

That "mouthpiece" that you refer to is the Villages manager. She is more in the know than any of the hundreds of people that report to her. If she cannot advise you, then Morris certainly is not going to. These people run a business. They do not owe you or anyone else a heads up.

I think many people have moved here with a totally unrealistic set of expectations. This is a manufactured community. Manufactured by The Villages to make money. The offerings necessary to induce you to buy are all in your documents. All other expectations are "assumed". The offerings here will ebb and flow as is necessary to make money. The basic amenities are paid for by your fees. Maintenance is also paid for by your fees. Your executive golf is free. All other amenities such as entertainment on the squares, parades, etc. will continue as long as the business flows to the merchants. The type of businesses that are here will be dependent upon whether they can be survive and thrive on business primarily from The Villages residents. If not, they will be gone and someone else will give it a shot.

Long story short; you are not moving into a community with guarantees that nothing will ever change. Costs will increase just like outside of the imaginary bubble. The changes at the church were at the request of many people here who wanted an additional high caliber entertainment venue. The developer has agreed to make these changes with his own dollar. How much more can you ask?

OMG !!! This is one of the best posts I have seen on here for a long time !!! Awesome ! Thank you ! Well spoken !

[OldManTime]

Stay on the subject

[blueash]

Question was asked whether if services are eliminated, would that change the tax-free status of the building as it was no longer used as a "church"? No. Any property owned by a church is also tax-free. The wisdom and constitutionality of this has been challenged and the courts have upheld tax-free status. Nice (off topic) review of the issue at Churches and Taxes - ProCon.org

[graciegirl]

I still say it isn't a traditional church and was not built to be a traditional church and has a series of different speakers once a week. I think that this isn't as big an issue if it were a real church community with a lot of clubs and organizations and outreach projects and with several services a week and with the same leaders. I do not take away from the real people listening to a real speaker once a week but since the speakers change weekly, it doesn't seem to be a leap to suggest that if it is not available for a time or forever the congregants could find another person to listen to.

I think I just dangled a participle. I hope I didn't **** anyone off.

And maybe it has tax exempt status???

[rji4072]

The original question is will there still be church services, and it still seems unclear. I for one will miss them greatly and so will hundreds of others that pack the church each sunday, standing room only during high season, and more true worship going on there than many traditional churches, there r going to be a lot of upset snowbirds when they come back roy

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by rji4072

The original question is will there still be church services, and it still seems unclear. I for one will miss them greatly and so will hundreds of others that pack the church each sunday, standing room only during high season, and more true worship going on there than many traditional churches, there r going to be a lot of upset snowbirds when they come back roy

the op posted, "I was at the service today, and the guest singers both said 'good bye'. The pastor also said good bye. I asked him on the way out if there will be no more church services, and he said yes, that's his understanding." that made it pretty clear to me that the church services are history.

and re the statement in your post, '...more true worship going on there than many traditional churches...' am wondering on what basis you make that statement. have you done a study of same? can/will you please identify those traditional churches? is it your mere opinion based on nothing or something you can document?

[pbeinetti]

I did check with Janet Tutt to see what she knows about the future of church services at the renovated Church on the Square, and she responded that she did not know, and that she is not the person to contact on that question. She forwarded my email to Gary Lester, who is The Villages VP PR. He responded that no decisions have been made about how the renovated Church on the Square will be used in the future. I then went back to him again, and asked if the renovation will continue to look like a church, and while no decisions have been made per his previous email, is there at least an intent to use the building for church services. He came back to me and said he can't add any further information, and to read the Daily Sun for future information. Gary Lester was/is a director of Abundant Life Ministries, the organization that ran the church services at Church on the Square, and was the founding pastor of North lake Presbyterian Church. He was brought to The Villages in 1999 to be Spiritual Life Director. I suspect it was he who was initially responsible for the church services at the Church on the Square -- although, I personally do not know when those services started. I would hope that he still would be very supportive of having services at the renovated Church on the Square. If anyone wants to contact Gary and let him know your interest in continuing to have church services at the renovated Church on the Square, he can be contacted at gary.lester@thevillages.com.

[wendyquat]

Just wondering if they took an offering during Sunday services? If so, I'd bet they will be looking to replenish those coffers after completion of the renovations!

[CFrance]

All the evasiveness doesn't bode well for the future of the church service, I'm afraid.

[downeaster]

This is an interesting thread. OP asks question and 26 responses later OP answers own question.

[memason]

Originally Posted by downeaster

This is an interesting thread. OP asks question and 26 responses later OP answers own question.

Only proves you should ask the question to the person or persons that can answer your question in the first place. Sometimes [most times] it's better to go right to the source.

[pbeinetti]

My purpose for posting on TOTV was to see if anyone had any useful information regarding the subject, and to get a flavor for how others feel about the situation. I had a pretty good idea that TV would not provide any information, even though it's highly likely they know the answers. Clearly they know if the renovated building will look like a church. Renderings have been completed months ago, and renovation begins in a few weeks. But, as Gary Lester says, we'll find out someday in the newspaper. For those of us who have enjoyed the church services at the Church on the Square, we'll keep our fingers crossed!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by pbeinetti

My purpose for posting on TOTV was to see if anyone had any useful information regarding the subject, and to get a flavor for how others feel about the situation. I had a pretty good idea that TV would not provide any information, even though it's highly likely they know the answers. Clearly they know if the renovated building will look like a church. Renderings have been completed months ago, and renovation begins in a few weeks. But, as Gary Lester says, we'll find out someday in the newspaper. For those of us who have enjoyed the church services at the Church on the Square, we'll keep our fingers crossed!

I still don't understand why it is so important to know exactly what is happening about the Church on the square. By the time that the church is reopened the OP may have found another venue for worship that he likes. Many of us have gone through this when churches have been closed or a beloved leader dies or is moved to another church..

As for The Villages, by now most of us can see that is the way they do business. It appears to work well for them. I would hate to be in charge of anything for The Villages. Although things are wonderful here there are always those who want to tell them how they want things done. There are about 100,000 of us with our own good ideas. No wonder we never see Gary Morse. I would hide too and play close to the vest if I were him.

I imagine it will all work out and everyone will be reasonably happy in the end.