Local pastor not invited to participate in 9/11 ceremony

[debodun]

The ladies fellowship of our "church" was abuzz about our pastor not being considered to speak at our community's 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Apparently the powers that be do not consider our independent, non-denominational worship group a "recognized" church. Our pastor IS an ordained minister (Baptist), it's our NFP status to which they object. The mayor told one of the town board members, who happens to belong to our fellowship and communicated this to us, that the board only recognizes the two established churches in town; one is Roman Catholic and the other is a combined Protestant (Baptist and Presbyterian) church.

What would be your stance on this if you were on the town board?

 

[tnthomas]

What is a "NFP status"? The town's mayor seems to think that he/she is running some kind of medieval fiefdom, maybe a good old 21st century civil rights complaint is in order.

https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint

 

[debodun]

What is a "NFP status"?

Not For Profit (a.k.a. non-profit)

 

[jujube]

Aren't all churches non-profit?

 

[Warrigal]

Apparently the powers that be do not consider our independent, non-denominational worship group a "recognized" church

I'm not sure about the US but in Australia churches are 'recognised' by an act of parliament. This confers legal status in the same way that corporatisation does for commercial or charitable enterprises. An independent worship group such as a home church or similar would not qualify without going through the necessary legal processes.

However, I don't see why this matters in the context of a memorial service.

Perhaps there was a need to keep the speakers list from blowing out. I'm pretty sure that there would have been other speakers not representing churches who would have been anxious to contribute to the service.

Do you plan to attend this service?

 

[Butterfly]

Churches in the US almost all have non-profit status. If not, it is very odd.

 

[tnthomas]

Not For Profit (a.k.a. non-profit)

All churches in the U.S. are eligible for non-profit status; can't imagine any that don't know that or would fail to take advantage of the tax benefit.

Even the "church" of Scientology has non profit status....what a travesty that is.

 

[Ralphy1]

You can't have every religious group speak no matter for what reason...