There is no simple answer to the debate on owning church property. Should we sell and give to the poor (Matthew 19-21)? What a bonanza for NZBMS. Tim Wright in his letter (NZ Baptist, June) can justly claim to “be blessed to be part of a church that dosen’t own a building.” No maintenance costs, insurance, mortgages, property management committees, ad nauseum. 

I have worshiped at the same church since 1945. The buildings are old, weatherboard and iron roof, and over the last two years maintenance has cost our church dear both in time and money. As Tim says, that can, and possibly has, been a distraction, but it is still our home. We share it with the Samoan SDAs, Tongans, Koreans, Communicare, AA, and various other groups who need somewhere to meet or worship. 

We can’t all meet at school halls, they are already full, and while I feel decidedly uncomfortable with the costs of running a building, I can’t see us all living in rental accommodation. But it’s great that other congregations have made this choice.

– Tony Goodwin
Avondale