BIDDEFORD, Maine — Plans for one of the largest churches in New England _ with seating for 4,375 people _ are being scaled back because of escalating construction prices.
Costs for New Life Christian Fellowship´s proposed new church rose by $2 million in six months, the Rev. Tom Gallant said. "You see a significant increase like that, you pull the reins pretty hard," he said.
The size of the proposed 120,000-square-foot church in Biddeford was unusual in the Northeast. Theologians use the term "megachurch" to describe such large, mostly Protestant congregations.
Now the non-denominational, evangelical church is considering a 15,000- to 20,000-square-foot expansion at its current site.
New Life Christian Fellowship´s decision to delay construction has implications for a commercial development in Biddeford.
The 480,000-square-foot Biddeford Crossing shopping center was to be built on land that includes the current 500-seat church.
The church is negotiating a severance agreement with Packard Development, which purchased an option to build The Shops at Biddeford Crossing, said Gallant, the church´s chief financial officer.
Using simple ratio proportions, we are looking at CC at their 412,000 square foot number as being capable of a minimum of 15,000 congregants. Duh -
Assume that RT had only 100 people living therein and paying taxes. Would those 100 people REALLY be expected to pay for all of the infrastructure associated with a 15,000 person church? (not to mention that nobody in that town belongs to said church??)
Time for the Supreme Court Fight to commence. Stop playing games folks!!!
Let's not get crazy Rational - State courts can handle this issue just fine. If CC were to press the issue up to the Supreme level, they could be faced with a major backlash - even the rEV. is aware of that.