[swirlgirl]

I have been a Christian for three years now, after coming out of a cult. I joined and am attending the Presbyterian church of my ancestors... this is the question I have. Our current pastor is not using the manse (place where the pastor could live) and is being rented out.

My aunt has lived next door to this manse since 1943... she says that whenever a pastor is not living there that the church rents it to anyone whom can be current on paying the rent. My aunt has stated that quite a few single woman, some with children have had "live in boyfriends" over the years. The current single mother has "several" boyfriends... the one that pays her rent is in the military service and only comes every third weekend... I am sure he does not know about her other "men" whom pay her a visit.

The renter does not attend the church... but is this NOT a concern for other churches that they don't care whom they rent the manse to? Doesn't it look bad on Christianity, the Church, and the Presbyterians in the eyes of the community?

Please advise... :confused:

[cal823]

I don't know... you can't really discriminate in who you rent stuff too, that would be sort of wrong...

[firmbeliever]

Maybe if you let her rent the place you may be able to help her find the right path, and mend her ways.
If you kick her out, then she may be worse off .

[inthebox]

"My aunt has lived next door to this manse since 1943....she says that whenever a pastor is not living there that the church rents it to anyone whom can be current on paying the rent."

If that is the only legal / contractual requirement, then her lifestyle is irrelevant.
It the rental agreement has religious or moral requirements, you may have a point.



"The renter does not attend the church....but is this NOT a concern for other churches that they don't care whom they rent the manse to? Doesn't it look bad on Christianity, the Church, and the Presbyterians in the eyes of the community?"

Who did Jesus come for?. sinners.
Who are some of the peolple He related to?. some of the dregs of society : the tax collectors, the samaritan woman at the well, lepers etc...

He readily accepted them after He pointed out their sin, and their change in heart.

I'm not saying that her reported lifestyle is acceptable or should be accepted, but would it not be a wonderful testimony for Christ, if the church counseled her and offered her love rather then condemnation?




Grace and Peace

[Fr_Chuck]

No not at all, this is a business arrangement and if in the US, they could not violate housing laws by trying to dictate morallity to its renters.

And if a person has several boyfriends, it may mean they are single and just dating, it may or may not mean anything else.

In the past, our group has a rental house that we often let those that are trying to improve live in, more times than not, it turns out they end up on drugs or won't do anything and will have to be evicted, but it only shows we are trying to help people.

It only looks bad to those that want it to look bad or are too busy being nosey into others affairs.

[paraclete]

You should avoid listening to gossip even from an aunt and if the dear lady has concerns she should take them up with the Pastor and the elders and not spread gossip

[Leidenschaftlich für Wahr]

I think it looks bad on Christianity and the Church that she hasn't been witnessed to, along with every other person on earth.
I think that Christians are more worried about the outer superficial evidence of Christianity, and don't realize that the thing that makes Christianity look the worst is the Christians.

[ShelbyWelby]

Makes sense!