Stories of Hoffman
Today I have tales of Hoffman. Not the creator of fevered tales of delirium such as the Sandman, the Mines of Falun, or even that tale of strange gifts and evil mice: the Nutcracker. Fun as they are. But rather on to a world that even Ernst Theodor Amadeus did not have the resources to enter. Commercial Real Estate. PN Hoffman. These people are going to blow up a UCC church, my church
First Congregational United Church of Christ Washington D C . Or crush it, mangle it. I don't think the final details or dates have been settled on yet, though we are under agreement to vacate the premises a few Sundays from now. This will be the last Christmas the building stands. This a building which has only been up now since 1961. We are letting them do this, are even actively encouraging them to do this. In its place they will, at some point three or four years from now, erect eight stories (not tales, but then I don't have all the details) of high rise luxury condominuims. In return for this they have pledged that they will try to find a couple of corners and other out-of-way places on one of the lower floors which we will have as our Church. Will we be able to resume our dinner program for the homeless at our former location? This is not being encouraged. All this is in central Washington DC just over from Metro Center metro stop across from the Hyatt and from St Patricks. Next door to that Hulking Piece of Crap that is the Mies van der Rohe (
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - Wikipedia) designed DC Public library. Which is under certain threats itself. When I came across this story of some Presbyters in Queens (I see that they have almost as many parishioners as First Church does) who are also tearing down their Church, but so that they may have built in its place affordable housing for the elderly
A congregation tears down its church to expand its mission | csmonitor.com. It gave me a moment of pause. A group, Enterprise community partners, has worked with them to develop this transformation into affordable housing. The detailed article goes on to make clear that this transformtion is financially complex and emotionally wrenching A massive undertaking for those who make this choice, as one of their parishioners observes: "The church is not a physical structure. It's not the stained-glass windows; it's not these pews," he says. "It's the people in the church. It's our mission, and it's our potential to do good in the community through this project and our potential to expand our spiritual work through this project."
The Presbyters will come out of this with a Sanctuary rebuilt within in the new complex, and some cash. First Church took counsel not to think in terms of affordable housing (at least not downtown), but to leave that sort of thing to those who can afford it.
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