I hesitate to even go into this topic for fear that it may offend someone, but it bothers me and I am not exactly sure of all the reasons why. Have you noticed all the new churches that are constantly being built in Edmond? They are all protestant, non-liturgical churches, but that issue is not what bothers me. What does bother me is WHY are so many new churches being built when there are plenty of existing ones to serve the current population of Edmond, OK. It would seem that in each case there are a hand full of people representing a small group of disgruntled members of a certain congregation (these unhappy souls are already going to the church right down the street from the site of the NEW church). This group somehow gets the funding for a NEW building and in no time at all another church has sprung up with a newer, better, more innovative way of worshiping God. How many ways can a protestant worship God and how is the NEW church going to minister to its congregation any better than the church down the street. People are imperfect, preachers are imperfect, and churches are imperfect...and so the New church will prove to be imperfect too. So will yet another group of people from yet another already existing church break away looking for the perfect place to pray? I think this phenomenon must definately say something about our society...I am afraid that the people that are building these NEW and better churches are also searching for a new and better self...I must think that their actions are in the interest of self and not in the interest of worshiping God. Can't we be happy simply worshiping (no matter where it is), happy that we live in a country where we are allowed to worship any God we choose. Am I being overly sensitive to this Holy phenomenon or are others wondering the same thing I am? You don't see a new Roman Catholic church going up at every street corner and you don't see a new Greek Orthodox church going up in every cow pasture. Maybe we protestants need a stronger, common thread of tradition and ritual. Maybe if we did then we would be able to stand together in worship, in peace and harmony, instead of in suspicion and discord.

s hamilton