Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom
At any rate my best guess as to what taking the ground really means is that it is some type of stamp of approval that comes from headquarters. This might possibly involve choosing elders and insuring that the church is supportive of the ministry. Other than that, I can't really determine what it really means.
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I think you hit the mark or at least hit fairly close. I had been told of an incident that happened years before I moved to the Northwest. A brother had a burden for Bellevue before there was a church in Bellevue. Problem was he followed through on his burden (taking the Church in Bellevue) without the stamp of approval. As a result he found himself quarantined/excommunicated. When the ground was officially taken in Bellevue, they had to use a different name until The Church in Bellevue name became available.
I may not have the facts completely accurate, but the outcome was the same.
What it really means, taking the ground is just a pretentious display. If the name is available, anyone can register as the Church in _____ if they're willing to pay the fees.