Vermont Church Votes to Sell Prized Stained Glass to Continue its Mission to the Homeless
Posted by gnome de plume in Relaxed PoliticsIn a heart-rending story, The Boston Globe reports on an historic Baptist Church in Brattleboro, Vermont that has decided to sell one of its several Tiffany stained glass windows in order to keep the church going and to keep its mission available to the homeless.
As an art lover, I want to see the windows stay in their original location. As a humanitarian, I applaud this congregation for being committed to its teachings. I am also horrified and distressed by the level of human misery visited on Brattleboro. I know Brattleboro well. My brother lives just across the state line in Massachusetts. I have driven by this church, not knowing the beautiful sights that were available to anyone who walked in. This is such a lovely corner of the country that Rudyard Kipling purchased a house and lived nearby for awhile.
The other terrible thing is that this is Vermont! The People’s Republic of Vermont! One of the few states that is known to care and do something about the welfare of its people. Brattleboro is not a very large city. Only 12,500 in the last census! To have hundreds of homeless seeking shelter every night in this New England town speaks to the terrible toll this economy is taking on our country.
The one heartening thing I found in this article were the comments. When I last looked at them they were all positive and congratulatory to the church, while saddened by the proposed sale.The best comments were snarky to the Catholic Church, with one saying that world hunger could be ended if the Catholic Church sold off its treasures.
Some days the contrasts in wealth are just too much to bear.
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The Catholic Church sell anything? Only the Souls they deem unworthy because they aren’t Catholic. The Catholic Church has a lot of property, *treasures*, power and influence (way beyond what it should), some wealthy benefactors buying their way into heaven or the good graces of the Pope, and arrogance. In my opinion. The Church (and there are others besides Catholic) – any church who calls itself that isn’t *by* the people, it’s by and all about the *clergy*.
I am not speaking poorly of Catholics, but of The Catholic Church. The people I know who are Catholic are just like other people of other religions, some are good and some are not. I was greatly helped by a local priest when going through the darkness of my divorce, and I am and will be forever grateful for his caring and help. But I don’t like the attitude of The Catholic Church.
I am sorry for this church – they are being faithful and helping their fellow neighbors. It is upsetting, this plan of theirs, but then the bible does say that riches are not the way. In this case, the riches can be the means, and the end seems to be doing good for their neighbors.
I wonder if some wealthy person(s) will step up and help them out. If some wealthy art collector will buy the window and take it out of the church. Or maybe the *buyer* will give the money, not take the window, and will leave it in place. Will be interesting to see if the transaction will happen and how who what when it will be.
@ Pellora:
Pellora! She says it like it is! 
Several of the comments in the paper asked the same question, as to whether some philanthropist would step in and give the church the money and not have to move the window. The sad thing about selling the art is that this is a depressed market and the sale will not bring as much as it might have in better times. The article says the window has appraised at $75,000. The congregation says that amount will keep it going for about a year and a half.
And then what? We pray for better times ahead? 
Comments in the Globe to the story
I am of mixed feelings about all of this. On the one hand, I think that religious institutions (and everyone else!) should place a much higher value on helping the poor than on adorning the church (house, clothes, etc). On the other hand, I love beautiful buildings. If asked to choose, however, I don’t think I’d be able to worship God in a building where the board/management/clergy were not dedicated to helping those who are hungry and needy.
This is one of the many reasons why I no longer attend the synagogue where my son grew up.
@ gnome de plume:
One commenter mentioned (I’ll paraprase) that the sale of the window is a temporary fix. I didn’t refresh before putting the linkie to the comments, that Gnome mentioned in her post right before me!
per usual I guess.
Anyway – I think this will be a thoughtful exercise by the church members (who already have had to think this through), town people, state people, all people who hear or read about this. This is the tip of the iceberg as it were, and will be a wake up call for many, possibly all – if they read or listen or think – which leaves out about 20% of the populace
Healing vibes for ndfg. Take care. You have to be healthy for your surgery.
There is a street in Kansas City which at one time was where the wealthy lived. The churches were large and ornate. Through the years, white flight took the church members from that area and many of the churches were closed an boarded up. I always said any congregation planning a building program should drive down that street and realize that could happen. Money shouldn’t go into the building, but into programs.
It would be nice if some philanthropists could subsidize the windows and keep them in place as a living monument rather than moving them to a private home, club or museum. A friend grew up in a church in Indianapolis. He discovered the Tiffany window he had enjoyed through childhood in now in the city museum.
OT–Joe Klein in Time noted this about the Senate bill: “My favorite provision requires that all members of Congress give up their federally-funded health care benefits and join the health care exchanges that will be set up by this bill. This is brilliant politics, addressing the tide of populist anger and fears of incipient socialism. But it also makes an important substantive point. The future of health care reform in this country will depend on how effectively the exchanges–health insurance super-stores–are working. If members of Congress have to participate in this system, you can bet they’ll insist on a array of choices, similar to the system they currently use, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan.”
I still want to cancel Congressional insurance until the new system is approved and in place, but this is a good approach.
@ sharonlee:
Moving the pretty stuff from old churches, IF the church is going to be torn down, would be okay. Moving the windows or other *antiques* to a museum or to another church seems okay. When older homes are torn down, the nice wood work and all is salvaged.
But of course, this situation is very different. They are living their faith though and I commend them for it.
To NAFG – I’m sorry you have been so sick, I only realized late last night when catching up with comments. And glad that the fever broke for you too – now don’t over do it and get yourself better all the way.
And to Gnome – exercise is always good. I know that. But I don’t make the time to exercise.
and I have the weight to show for it too. I really really really need to get back into the gym. I was good for a while, then stopped. Not good for me.
@ sharonlee:
The Congresscritters have 21 plans from which to choose (I think I have the number correct) –
And yes, wouldn’t it be nice if they didn’t have public funded insurance until the reform is in place.
Some have done that already.
Big Ed is calling the four stoopid dems names today for dictating to the majority what they want – Lincoln, Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Lieberfuck – and he has some choice words for the repugnants too, as usual
Off to help *entertain* my 18 year old Denver Niece – it will be fun though – she’s a doll!
Wish I’d gotten some work done this morning like I meant to – I just piddled around though… as I do too often…
@ Pellora:
Piddling is okay some days. Enjoy your visit with your niece. A couple of mine are coming back from college this week for the holiday.
I am off to run some errands before meeting my Monday dinner group.
Off to do stuff. Should be back in a few hours.That got canceled.
I’m back. Sitting outside and enjoying the gorgeous weather. We need one really cold day though to send all the mosquitoes to wherever it is that they winter.
It is a gorgeous day around here! I was up at my parents helping with some stuff, came home to find some things my dad needs so he can finish the platform for his toy trains that are supposed to go around the Xmas tree, which is supposed to be put up on Friday with Gnomette’s help.
While we were carrying his big sheet of wood around from the shop to the garage I spied some more Devil’s Cigars popping up in another part of the yard!
This amazing video, about the “Christian Side Hug” is an amazing example of what happens when abstinence-only proponents begin to create their own version of hip hop culture. According to the blog The Sexist at the Washington City Paper:
@ Texas Betsy:
I was afraid to watch. But then I did. 
Religiosity and Teens is not something I understand. When and where I was growing up it was not cool. Here in the South I know it is with a large part of Teen World.
I am not all that interested in finding a transcript, but what where they saying about Obama? I couldn’t catch the words – to hear whether they were pro or anti.
I just put another post in the hopper for you to use whenever you need it, Betsy.
Hey! Where is everybody???
Cooking your turkey already??? 
You are forcing me to watch the Titans-Texans game with Mr. Gnome! 
Like a nutrino, I’m just passin’ through.
We have an old Baptist church in town that is historic and in desperate need of repairs. Alas, the congregation that meets there is about a dozen people with a few dimes to rub among them, and in lethal fear of the marxist Historical Society that wants to repair the joint. There’s quite a few Baptist churches around here that survive on maybe 5 families. One big one, and when I attended a wedding there last summer, the preacher asked three (count them, 3) times if someone knows of any reason these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Uh? You didn’t like the silence you got the first time? OK, he’s a auto mechanic[*] (and not a member of the church), but her super-religious sister is behind bars for embezzling from the school system.
Cracked up good on the Christian Side Hug video. Just don’t ask why the teen pregnancy stats among the “abstinence only” crowd are an odds on favorite in the race to the bottom.
Oh, and on HCR, this is actually pretty cool, despite being a, ya know, a gummint site.
[*]OK, he’s my auto mechanic. And he lives up the hill behind me. And he can fix just about anything. Some things you just don’t mess with. Not that I know anything, except a certain talent for colorful linguistics.
hiya Bumz *waves weakly* I was overly optomistic. My fever came back shortly after my last comment and in spite of that, i had to drive to minneapolis this afternoon to do Absolute Must details for the closing next monday. By the time i got home, it had climbed back up to 102.9
at least i won’t be overdoing it with work … they don’t want me back to work until i’ve been fever-free for 24 hours.
ok. back to bed.
DREW BREES ON ESPN –
must be half time!
@ newdealfarmgrrrlll:
Chicken zoop. Chicken zoop. Chicken zoop. With garlic.
Feel better soon.
@ newdealfarmgrrrlll:
Hah! 24 hours! That is same rule they have in school! I am glad they are letting you off while you are sick. I suppose it has something to do with self preservation and H1N1 at every turn.
@ gordon:
I am always surprised at the numbers of Baptist churches in New England. The library in my brother’s town of 600 used to be a Baptist church, but they evidently moved on. Now there is only Unitarian and a Trinitarian church left. The Trinitarian church is the old church, the Unitarians are the upstarts!
Here’s a picture of the library.
The fountain in front is fed by a spring that comes from nearby Mt. Grace.
@ newdealfarmgrrrlll:
Lots of garlic – you won’t be hugging anyone any time soon anyway, event the side hug!
Speaking of Christian Side Hug website for the comments!
Gus is here. He says hi
Hi all. Just got in. Everyone OK?
Hi Gus!
@ Texas Betsy:
Well, that’s 4 minutes I wont get back. How do they know Jesus never hugged?
@ newdealfarmgrrrlll:
Chicken soup or Chinese hot and sour soup to help you get well. Glad your company is encouraging you to stay at home.
Meanwhile, glad the closing is progressing.
OMG! I am on a roll! I just dropped ANOTHER post in the hopper!
@ gnome de plume:
Building up knowledge so you can deal with the investment bankers? Hope the presentations aren’t deadly.
sharonlee wrote:
Making it easy on Betsy and me!!!
Your’s are more serious than the ones I put in the cupboard!
@ sharonlee:
We’ve got to choose one to do the financing for the major expansion of the CCRC whose board I sit on. I’ve read through the four proposals. Tomorrow we hear the live presentations. It is a $60 million expansion.
Ok, now I am
Sleep well Gnome. and thanks for the full pantry. i’m off to see what’s back there.
I am calling it a day.
Good night bumz.
g’night Betsy – that room is so clean and pretty, but not very puppy and kitty suitable.
g’night Sharonlee
g’night Gnome
sleep tight, sweet white dreams!
Good thing I have no puppies or kitties in the house.
Morning Bumz. I am
waking up for my long day of 
I didn’t sleep all that well. Puppies woke me up a bunch during the night. The front came through and is blowing a cool wind through the house. I would have like to have stayed in bed snuggled up. But duty calls. 
g’morning Bumz, I’m up early enough to drink mom’s hot water with a trace of coffee flavor.
gnome, the one good thing about a day like the one you have ahead of you is the lovely sense of relief when you finally get home.
morning bumz.
class & meetings today, then a 5 day weekend