Interfaith Design

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

Thank you Stephen,

So if a church is abandoned then what is stopping them from using it for another purpose? I guess I have to read the original article.  It is the weekend maybe I can take the time to do so.

A Catholic church has to be decommissioned, I believe, before it can be use for another purpose.... I know that when I designed a chapel we had the relics of St. Elizabeth Seten put into the foundation.... How do you decommission the slab? You can take out the altar with the relic, that would not be a problem. Slab another story. Just some thoughts.

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

JMJ

Article read,,,, I like the idea of having churches inviting others to share the use of their properties, use of their parking lots in dense urban spaces. If they have space to do so, housing spaces that would be directly run by the church themselves, without government oversight though. I would hope that would be done as a ministry. The same with social help. The only thing  is that it sounded like the article was encouraging municipalities to write codes and laws to force a church to do so. If I understood that correctly then I would reject any municipality forcing a church to provide these things on their private property that they own. Don't you agree that would be a bit of over reach? Would that be a next step if they could not be "encouraged" to do the "right" thing? I hope I misunderstood what Mr. Reinhard wrote.

At my faith community of St. Edmond's, we have meeting spaces that are not sacred spaces and we do invite many community groups to use them when we are not using them for our own functions. AA, Overeater Anonymous, and a few others to name a few. But it is our own decision to do so and we don't charge them rent. It is a gift to the community. Do we hope they are encouraged to become members? Sure, but they are not required to do so. A community charging rent and fees would have to consider that they might be treated as businesses in these areas and would have to have additional insurances and might lose partially it's "separation of Church and State status." Probably these building would have to be upgraded to meet codes that they might not have to meet otherwise.

Why do we have fences around our private property, between us and our neighbors? Is it just prudent in being able to take care of the property and managing what happens on it?

Something to consider about large blocks. I use to drive 30 miles to work in Atlanta. It was nice when there was a break in the store fronts and homes along the route with large open spaces. I would say that large open spaces in urban city scapes might be a break in the "busy ness" in these environments. So, maybe it is good to have large blocks, that churches may provide, every once in while in these urban scapes just for a break. They are different, they are "set apart".  Like I mentioned in my earlier comment isn't that what Sacred/ Holy means, "set apart". Just my humble opinions.

Take care and God bless everyone.

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision

JMJ

Article read,,,, I like the idea of having churches inviting others to share the use of their properties, use of their parking lots in dense urban spaces. If they have space to do so, housing spaces that would be directly run by the church themselves, without government oversight though. I would hope that would be done as a ministry. The same with social help. The only thing  is that it sounded like the article was encouraging municipalities to write codes and laws to force a church to do so. If I understood that correctly then I would reject any municipality forcing a church to provide these things on their private property that they own. Don't you agree that would be a bit of over reach? Would that be a next step if they could not be "encouraged" to do the "right" thing? I hope I misunderstood what Mr. Reinhard wrote.

At my faith community of St. Edmond's, we have meeting spaces that are not sacred spaces and we do invite many community groups to use them when we are not using them for our own functions. AA, Overeater Anonymous, and a few others to name a few. But it is our own decision to do so and we don't charge them rent. It is a gift to the community. Do we hope they are encouraged to become members? Sure, but they are not required to do so. A community charging rent and fees would have to consider that they might be treated as businesses in these areas and would have to have additional insurances and might lose partially it's "separation of Church and State status." Probably these building would have to be upgraded to meet codes that they might not have to meet otherwise.

Why do we have fences around our private property, between us and our neighbors? Is it just prudent in being able to take care of the property and managing what happens on it?

Something to consider about large blocks. I use to drive 30 miles to work in Atlanta. It was nice when there was a break in the store fronts and homes along the route with large open spaces. I would say that large open spaces in urban city scapes might be a break in the "busy ness" in these environments. So, maybe it is good to have large blocks, that churches may provide, every once in while in these urban scapes just for a break. They are different, they are "set apart".  Like I mentioned in my earlier comment isn't that what Sacred/ Holy means, "set apart". Just my humble opinions.

Take care and God bless everyone.

Hello Everyone,

I disagree, at least for Catholic worship spaces. The magnitude of holiness for this space because of the Eucharist Celebration should not share space with possible unholy actions or activities that might happen in other times that it would be used. I think it should be a space that is set apart and special. Is that what the word holy means "set apart". Just my thoughts.

Take Care,

Mario

"We need a new model for houses of worship, one that allows our faith institutions to survive and our communities to prosper. The notion of a single-use, impenetrable, inactive structure needs to be replaced by a new model: mixed use, accessible, high density."  What Cities and Churches Can Learn from an Urbanist's Vision