Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

Regarding book studies and such -- our church has a bookstore, but it is down the hall away from the main lobby (atrium) so there is no overt solicitation. You wouldn't even know it was there if you didn't wander down that hall; you must purposely seek it out. I liked what BH said about why not GIVE you the book if it's that important. Our elders actually DO that. Every few months, if they see a book they feel is really good, they purchase a copy for every single family! (Whether they want it or not! LOL!)

Melanie wrote:Regarding book studies and such -- our church has a bookstore, but it is down the hall away from the main lobby (atrium) so there is no overt solicitation. You wouldn't even know it was there if you didn't wander down that hall; you must purposely seek it out. I liked what BH said about why not GIVE you the book if it's that important. Our elders actually DO that. Every few months, if they see a book they feel is really good, they purchase a copy for every single family! (Whether they want it or not! LOL!)

Good for your elders.

Another thing they could do is start a congregational library. And to draw the church together let the congregants be asked to buy and donate books in honor of a deceased loved one or church member. The elders or pastor could pick out a long list of books to buy and donate. A big list could be put in front of the auditorium or foyer and the person buying each book could scratch it of the list to avoid multiple buys.

Melanie wrote:Regarding book studies and such -- our church has a bookstore, but it is down the hall away from the main lobby (atrium) so there is no overt solicitation. You wouldn't even know it was there if you didn't wander down that hall; you must purposely seek it out. I liked what BH said about why not GIVE you the book if it's that important. Our elders actually DO that. Every few months, if they see a book they feel is really good, they purchase a copy for every single family! (Whether they want it or not! LOL!)

I told them one time I didn't want to buy the book, they were like "oh, you can afford it and you know it".

I did not like that. They don't know what my budget is, or what my other expenses are.

BH, I think most every cofC I ever went to actually DID have a library set up much as you described. I used to use it a lot when I was teaching classes (pre-internet days). I knew whatever material I got from the church library was probably pre-approved and safe to use! : ) OK, now I'm curious; did the more conservative cofC's have libraries, or are they not "authorized?" (Do you not have homes in which to READ?!!!!)

Melanie wrote:BH, I think most every cofC I ever went to actually DID have a library set up much as you described. I used to use it a lot when I was teaching classes (pre-internet days). I knew whatever material I got from the church library was probably pre-approved and safe to use! : ) OK, now I'm curious; did the more conservative cofC's have libraries, or are they not "authorized?" (Do you not have homes in which to READ?!!!!)

I'm sure Floyd Decker would be against it for some reason. Frightened Floyd preached against everything being an innovation.

Melanie wrote:BH, I think most every cofC I ever went to actually DID have a library set up much as you described. I used to use it a lot when I was teaching classes (pre-internet days). I knew whatever material I got from the church library was probably pre-approved and safe to use! : ) OK, now I'm curious; did the more conservative cofC's have libraries, or are they not "authorized?" (Do you not have homes in which to READ?!!!!)

Our church had a library but it was on the 2nd floor and not many people knew it was there.

Melanie wrote:BH, I think most every cofC I ever went to actually DID have a library set up much as you described. I used to use it a lot when I was teaching classes (pre-internet days). I knew whatever material I got from the church library was probably pre-approved and safe to use! : ) OK, now I'm curious; did the more conservative cofC's have libraries, or are they not "authorized?" (Do you not have homes in which to READ?!!!!)

Bigger places tended to have libraries. Smaller places had a problem of cost and space, so it just is not reasonable to have such a resource unless there is a certain head count. I was at a big place for long time that had a private one-person standard restroom off of the library because it used to be an office. That was very nice. You could take books into the inner sanctum and just relax and read. Just like George Costanza.

A library in a coC? None that I ever visited/attended. Elders & preachers had private libraries at their home although not in the church building. Must be unscriptural. Only those tracts hanging in the foyer were scriptural & allowed. Also, those Truth articles were awesome. They always had plenty of copies on hand for everyone.

Large coc I last attended had a library. They're pretty common now. Visited several.

I'm pretty sure the only books (outside of songbooks and Sunday school booklets) in the church building when I was growing up were in the preacher's office, and belonged to him. But he was a generous book loaner!