thank you for sharing Paul - I can't disagree with your experience and (sadly) feel it is the norm.

Our experience has been different. As a relatively young (12 year-old) African-American church in Southern California, we had to the opportunity to purchase a property from a local church that sounds very much like the one you describe. The only difference? They were able to embrace a very different congregation (!) and not only accept, but celebrate the evolution of their church.

Rare - but it can, and does happen