Seaside Chapel Changes

Scooterbug said

"I really don't understand all of these attempts to keep others from using things - beaches, churches, parking spaces, community common areas etc. Obviously abuses should be punished, but general use shouldn't. I guess I am just used to sharing public spaces and having most places be "public" spaces"




Once again it seems as if Sea Side would rather just be a Gated community. Redirect Hwy 30-A to go behind Sea Side and stop traffic all together. But,!!! This would ALSO include all the revenue from the outside. The retail revenue, the food and beverage revenue, and the RENTAL revenue. Hit em directly in their tightly closed pockets, then when one restaurant after another closes and they have to leave outside of there wonderful paradise to conduct business and are told "Oh no you cant do that because you dont live here" See how they feel then.
You know I dont mean to be an ass over it but come on people. You have to co-exist with outsiders to exist at all!

I don't know the specifics of the chapel, but I think it's important to point out that you have some homeowners who would like to limit visitors to Seaside. I'm sure they feel that when most homes are booked, the town has all the people it can handle. But I believe most of the homeowners want Seaside to be open and welcoming.

Often, unhappy and aggressive homeowners get involved and gain control of exclusive developments, especially in vacation areas because most homeowners live elsewhere and are generally satisfied as long as their units are booked.

Protesting or boycotting businesses in Seaside will not keep people from booking there. Don't make the mistake of punishing the businesses in Seaside, the Seaside Institute, Seaside events, the Cottage rental Agency, or most of the homeowners. And please keep this in mind when posting on this forum.

I don't know the specifics of the chapel, but I think it's important to point out that you have some homeowners who would like to limit visitors to Seaside. I'm sure they feel that when most homes are booked, the town has all the people it can handle. But I believe most of the homeowners want Seaside to be open and welcoming.

Often, unhappy and aggressive homeowners get involved and gain control of exclusive developments, especially in vacation areas because most homeowners live elsewhere and are generally satisfied as long as their units are booked.

Protesting or boycotting businesses in Seaside will not keep people from booking there. Don't make the mistake of punishing the businesses in Seaside, the Seaside Institute, Seaside events, the Cottage rental Agency, or most of the homeowners. And please keep this in mind when posting on this forum.

Good points, Kurt. Do you (or anyone else) know if there is a counter effort by the businesses and the Institute and other (more reasonable) homeowners to let their positions be heard? Or, are these few people just allowed to have their way?

First the red shirts, and now kicking visitors out of church...seems dramatic for a community that was designed to be neighbor friendly and has been promoted as a "model" for New Urbanism around the entire world....

I won't stop going to my favorite places there because of this, but from a marketing/promotional point of view, it seems counter productive to me. Or maybe they could begin a new marketing campaign:

"Come to Seaside--home of the Seaside Chapel. Worship in a totally private, gated church--No tourists, no neighbors, must show homeowner ID to enter!"

I think it is ridiculous!

In the 90's I had the opportunity to work at Seaside as a consultant (the town was full of them). I worked with Seaside staff, homeowners, Robert and Darryl Davis, and found the whole experience disheartening. Despite the good people involved, there was a sense that not all was well in paradise. Money and selfishness (also known as greed) came to town and never left. It put the desires of the few above the needs of many and the result is what we see today. Everyone imagined themselves perpetually in a Southern Living photo shoot and the pursuit of the "good life" became the gold standard. Seaside is a pretend place. A set. Why do you think they shot the Truman Show at Seaside? I respect the business owners at Seaside and I like many of the shops and restaurants, but I don't spend money there. Seaside decided years ago they wanted my money, not me (can you blame them. It is not a protest or boycott, and indeed I am not alone. Other than riding by on 30A, I pay it no mind. It is just another ridiculous homage to "self" and a reminder the good ol' days have passed us by.

Protesting or boycotting businesses in Seaside will not keep people from booking there. Don't make the mistake of punishing the businesses in Seaside, the Seaside Institute, Seaside events, the Cottage rental Agency, or most of the homeowners.

As owners of a business that has been located in Seaside for 14 years, we are humble and grateful for every local, visitor, and homeowner that has patronized our business, Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery in Seaside over the years.

We have always been locally owned, not part of any chain, and in fact were one of the first hundred art studios of this type in the United States. We provide jobs to locals, pay taxes that benefit the local economy, and last year alone donated over $10,000 in goods and services to local charitable organizations, including the Seaside Neighborhood School where many of our local kids are being educated.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and hope you'll continue to shop, dine, and play at locally-owned small businesses in Seaside and all along 30-A that depend upon each and every one of you for our existence.

We love and appreciate ya'll so much!

Sincerely,

Jim & Stacy Radford, owners
Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery
27 Quincy Circle
Seaside, Florida 32459

firedupseaside.com

Protesting or boycotting businesses in Seaside will not keep people from booking there. Don't make the mistake of punishing the businesses in Seaside, the Seaside Institute, Seaside events, the Cottage rental Agency, or most of the homeowners. And please keep this in mind when posting on this forum.

Most of the Seaside business owners and many residents are as frustrated (or more so) as we are by the actions being led by a small EXTREMELY vocal group.

Boycotting Seaside businesses just hurts the people already getting hassled by and losing business because of the "****** Street Gang" as they have come to be known.

As owners of a business that has been located in Seaside for 14 years, we are humble and grateful for every local, visitor, and homeowner that has patronized our business, Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery in Seaside over the years.

We have always been locally owned, not part of any chain, and in fact were one of the first hundred art studios of this type in the United States. We provide jobs to locals, pay taxes that benefit the local economy, and last year alone donated over $10,000 in goods and services to local charitable organizations, including the Seaside Neighborhood School where many of our local kids are being educated.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and hope you'll continue to shop, dine, and play at locally-owned small businesses in Seaside and all along 30-A that depend upon each and every one of you for our existence.

We love and appreciate ya'll so much!

Sincerely,

Jim & Stacy Radford, owners
Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery
27 Quincy Circle
Seaside, Florida 32459

firedupseaside.com

Jim and Stacy and Dave, and all the others...I certainly do not plan to stop going to your wonderful shops and restaurants; Pat and Angie at the Post Office are super as well. Just too bad that certain people are behaving this way--makes things difficult for everyone!

Welcome to Seaside:

Shop
Play
Dine
Stay

but no worshipping!

Welcome to Seaside:

Shop
Play
Dine
Stay

but no worshipping!

Unless they have an owner's pass key to the locked chapel....

How many homeowners of seaside are full time residents?

Yes ? happened last week. We are moving to another facility near Gulf Place beginning this Sunday.

(From someone we know who goes there. Mike and I (and friends and family) are staying at Seaside one more time this summer - found reasonably priced spot. Will probably go back to Grayton next time. That's alright. We stayed at Seaside. Enjoyed it. Going back to Grayton is certainly not a hardship Anything along 30A. Counting down. Ellen

In the 90's I had the opportunity to work at Seaside as a consultant (the town was full of them). I worked with Seaside staff, homeowners, Robert and Darryl Davis, and found the whole experience disheartening. Despite the good people involved, there was a sense that not all was well in paradise. Money and selfishness (also known as greed) came to town and never left. It put the desires of the few above the needs of many and the result is what we see today. Everyone imagined themselves perpetually in a Southern Living photo shoot and the pursuit of the "good life" became the gold standard. Seaside is a pretend place. A set. Why do you think they shot the Truman Show at Seaside? I respect the business owners at Seaside and I like many of the shops and restaurants, but I don't spend money there. Seaside decided years ago they wanted my money, not me (can you blame them. It is not a protest or boycott, and indeed I am not alone. Other than riding by on 30A, I pay it no mind. It is just another ridiculous homage to "self" and a reminder the good ol' days have passed us by.

I respect your position. No place is perfect. Each has its faults. Those who don't see any good in a place are just as bad as those who seek to be exclusionary IMO.

The Truman show was shot in Seaside because it looks idyllic, a set if you wish, but it is not a set. I can understand if Seaside is not your kind of place. I have seen some things happen in Seaside that make the movie ironic, rather than representative, involving real life and real people.

Wouldn't it be fun to write and direct a bizarre independent film in Seaside, or a documentary titled "The True Man Show"?


It's a shame you couldn't experience a magic night a couple of weeks ago on the real bricks underneath the real oaks, with real people, real music, a real moon, and a real sweetness in the air.

I'ts difficult not to judge, criticize and condemn a church with a growing ministry shutting
it's doors. Shame on "The Board of Seasiderism Related to The Chapel" for not issuing some
type of public statement in an effort to prevent the tidal wive of emotions that have occurred.
A little communication goes a long way in maintaining relationships and diluting negativity
that might or might not be misdirected.

Seaside, at one point, was my kind of place. When the roads were sand, the water tower still stood, and the pavilions were open to all. I had the Seaside t-shirts, volunteered for the wine festivals, and even played a couple of matches of croquet with the world champion when the tournament was held in Seaside. In fact, when I had to work in Atlanta for a summer I would drive down Friday night, stay Saturday, and head back Sunday afternoon. A friend use to say "there comes Mr. *#@$in Seaside".We would hang out in Grayton at the old petting zoo and drink beer with the chickens, Hamus Alabamus (the pig) and then head down to Seaside and enjoy the peace and quiet. I knew eventually when Seaside opened its window to the world we would lose the magic you claim still exist. Old tricks aren't the same as magic. Believe me, I have had more sun and fun on this stretch of coast than a person deserves. And by the way, a couple of weeks ago I was in Greece ( Tinos, on the coast), and let me tell you those people have got it right.

Seaside, at one point, was my kind of place. When the roads were sand, the water tower still stood, and the pavilions were open to all. I had the Seaside t-shirts, volunteered for the wine festivals, and even played a couple of matches of croquet with the world champion when the tournament was held in Seaside. In fact, when I had to work in Atlanta for a summer I would drive down Friday night, stay Saturday, and head back Sunday afternoon. A friend use to say "there comes Mr. *#@$in Seaside".We would hang out in Grayton at the old petting zoo and drink beer with the chickens, Hamus Alabamus (the pig) and then head down to Seaside and enjoy the peace and quiet. I knew eventually when Seaside opened its window to the world we would lose the magic you claim still exist. Old tricks aren't the same as magic. Believe me, I have had more sun and fun on this stretch of coast than a person deserves. And by the way, a couple of weeks ago I was in Greece ( Tinos, on the coast), and let me tell you those people have got it right.

I'm so envious. Greece seems like the most magical, romantic place in the world to me, followed very closely by Italy. Both are on my short list of places to see in this lifetime.

dear friends

They may have taken the building from us, but they can,t take our Spirit and our mission to spread the Word that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
Please join us at Cross Point Church this Sunday at 11:00 A:M as we as a church body will continue our ministry through Jeff's message our worship music and the love of Christ.

So does this mean that there will no longer be regular Sunday services at the chapel? Does anyone know what a building has to be used for, to qualify as exempt?

Should we be concerned about the charter school?

Should we be concerned about the charter school?

No need to be worried about the charter school.

I respect your position. No place is perfect. Each has its faults. Those who don't see any good in a place are just as bad as those who seek to be exclusionary IMO.

The Truman show was shot in Seaside because it looks idyllic, a set if you wish, but it is not a set. I can understand if Seaside is not your kind of place. I have seen some things happen in Seaside that make the movie ironic, rather than representative, involving real life and real people.

Wouldn't it be fun to write and direct a bizarre independent film in Seaside, or a documentary titled "The True Man Show"?


It's a shame you couldn't experience a magic night a couple of weeks ago on the real bricks underneath the real oaks, with real people, real music, a real moon, and a real sweetness in the air.

What a great idea for a documentary. The natural tensions between the New Town and the Old Ways are just facinating. And Seaside certainly has had its share of characters. Fact is more interesting than fiction anytime! Maybe it could be a senior project for an FSU film student.

The Seaside Chapel is NOT closed. I received an email this week which I post below:

"We have made a change in our management of the Chapel and have begun a summer series of visiting pastors....we will make those announcement as those are arranged and post them on our web site, Seaside Chapel, Seaside Florida, and the Chapel bulletin board as well.

There have been unfounded rumors from unknown sources that the Chapel has closed and when and if it opens that it will only serve Seaside homeowners, that is not the truth.

We are excited about the services we will be able to offer and the Seaside homeowners, their guests and ALL who choose to worship with us are welcome to have a "Meaningful Encounter with our Heavenly Father, sing a few songs and go to the beach"

Anything other than that is a fabrication of the truth and the source should be considered.

Sincerely:

Charlie Renfroe
Chairman of the Seaside Chapel Board of Trustees"


Most of us want Seaside to be open and inclusive. We like it because it is NOT gated. People, not buildings, make a community great. Guests and visitors are always welcome. Unfortunately, there is a very small minority that seem to get upset about everything and cause the negative perceptions. And to hear the negative perceptions is very sad. To share is more rewarding than to be selfish.

Seaside Chapel

I have never read or heard that Seaside Chapel was going to close. But, I did read from this site that it was to be used by Seaside residents and their guests. Something happened to cause the current congregation at the Seaside Chapel to leave. Maybe Mr. Renfro will enlightens us with the facts. If there were "minutes of the meeting" it would be good if they were published in order for all of us to understand why this action was taken.

I have never read or heard that Seaside Chapel was going to close. But, I did read from this site that it was to be used by Seaside residents and their guests. Something happened to cause the current congregation at the Seaside Chapel to leave. Maybe Mr. Renfro will enlightens us with the facts. If there were "minutes of the meeting" it would be good if they were published in order for all of us to understand why this action was taken.

I think you already have been enlightened. Read the above post again.

I think you already have been enlightened. Read the above post again.

Sorry, but I don't consider "we made a change in management" a particularly valid explanation when you are talking about a minister and his/her congregation.

Sounds to me like Seaside wanted their chapel services a little less religion-y. You know, so the visitors could say "we went to that daaarling little church they have there" without having to actually sit through a preaching.

And then they can whip up a batch of margaritas and hit the beach.

It was good of Seaside to wait until this congregation had the building paid off, though.

Seaside Chapel

Sorry, but I don't consider "we made a change in management" a particularly valid explanation when you are talking about a minister and his/her congregation.

I did reread Mr. Renfroe's letter. It does not explain the questions about why the congregation, that was worshiping at Seaside Chapel, left. I would like to see the official minutes of the board to see what prompted Jeff Miller and the congregation to leave. Does Mr. Renfroe live in Seaside? I'm just curious as to why something this major happened. Thanks.

The Seaside Chapel is NOT closed. I received an email this week which I post below:

"We have made a change in our management of the Chapel and have begun a summer series of visiting pastors....we will make those announcement as those are arranged and post them on our web site, Seaside Chapel, Seaside Florida, and the Chapel bulletin board as well.

There have been unfounded rumors from unknown sources that the Chapel has closed and when and if it opens that it will only serve Seaside homeowners, that is not the truth.

We are excited about the services we will be able to offer and the Seaside homeowners, their guests and ALL who choose to worship with us are welcome to have a "Meaningful Encounter with our Heavenly Father, sing a few songs and go to the beach"

Anything other than that is a fabrication of the truth and the source should be considered.

Sincerely:

Charlie Renfroe
Chairman of the Seaside Chapel Board of Trustees"


Most of us want Seaside to be open and inclusive. We like it because it is NOT gated. People, not buildings, make a community great. Guests and visitors are always welcome. Unfortunately, there is a very small minority that seem to get upset about everything and cause the negative perceptions. And to hear the negative perceptions is very sad. To share is more rewarding than to be selfish.

Well, this is confusing. If the chapel is truly open to all...then, why were the other people and minister asked/told to leave?

We understood that because the building belongs to Seaside, it is only to be used by Seaside owners and their guests.

If this is not true, then what is the criteria for being able to attend church in the Seaside Chapel? Obviously, some people are not welcome, otherwise, the group that was meeting there would have stayed.

Can someone clarify please?