"And the church does not encourage people to be independent, so it has been kind of difficult."
The church neither encourages nor discourages support groups for those with same gender attractions.
I don't own a tuxedo; our church does not encourage vanities.
She said some churches encouraged people not to make cash offerings, but rather, to put checks in the collection plate.
The church encourages its members to make prayer a part of everyday life.
A spokesman, Michael Leonard, said the church had encouraged its members in that practice since 1915.
The churches have facilities for all age groups, and encourage members to support community activity.
In recent decades, some churches have encouraged a more informal dress code.
The patriarchal church discouraged women from participating in the work place and strongly encouraged them to remain at home.