OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Countryside Community Church will relocate to a planned interfaith site for Christians, Muslims and Jews in west Omaha.
The Omaha World-Herald (https://bit.ly/1FF98Bd ) reports more than 70 percent of the church’s congregation voted Sunday for the move to a 35-acre site. The relocation is part of a plan by the nonprofit Tri-Faith Initiative organization to have all three faiths represented at one location.
Countryside Community Church has been at its current location for more than 60 years.
Kris Hess, one member of the congregation, says she voted in favor of the move because of the potential opportunities for building relationships with people of other faiths. “We just need to move to this level of greater understanding,” she said.
Don Reed voted against relocating because he believes “it’s being done for the notoriety.”
The Rev. Eric Elnes, Countryside’s pastor, said community service and education are being considered by interfaith leaders as potential areas of collaboration.
“It strengthens all three faiths,” Elnes said.
If the site becomes a reality, Countryside’s new church would have 71,100 square feet of space, based on a preliminary design. The project’s cost, including the land, is estimated to be about $25 million. According to Elnes, $16.1 million in financial commitments has already been secured for construction.
The Tri-Faith organization is scheduled to make an announcement about the future of the interfaith site at a press conference Tuesday morning.
___
Information from: Omaha World-Herald, https://www.omaha.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.