When Does Making A "Joyful Noise" = Public Nuisance???

[DeSwiss]

SOURCE: AP

Ohio Church Noise Bothers Neighbors

Apr 27, 5:50 PM (ET)

MASSILLON, Ohio (AP) - Is it worship? Or disturbing the peace?

Neighbors of Worshippers of Christ the Warrior King Church have petitioned the city, saying screams and sounds of glory and praise coming from the building are a nuisance. But church members contend they're being harassed because of how they worship.

"Sunday morning is God's day of worship," the Rev. Troy Sowell said. "I'm not going to tell this congregation, 'You're being too loud.'" Sowell says he's open to finding a solution but is not going to forfeit his right to worship God. Police responded to noise complaints three consecutive days during a revival last year, after the congregation moved in.

"They have a sound system over there that is very loud," said neighbor Reginald Winters. "I'm in my house with the door shut, and literally, my windows are vibrating in my house. ... This year, it's started right back up."

The church closed its doors and windows, but the complaints have continued, said Jerena Copeland, associate pastor. Sowell said light bulbs have been stolen from the building and beer bottles have been wedged beneath the tires of members' vehicles.

Church members recently met with Police Chief Robert Williams. "I'm still hoping for an amicable, diplomatic solution," said Williams, an ordained minister and the son of a pastor.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20070427/D8OP70LO0.html

*** - If it were a night club or strip joint, it would have been closed down and boarded-up in a heartbeat.

[patrice]

1. Christ the Warrior King?

:cry:

It's as though the New Testament NEVER happened!

[DeSwiss]

2. And he's ticked-off from what I hear....

[Igel]

7. A forward-looking name,

not a backwards looking one.

I'm guessing pre-millennialist. I don't think post-millennialists buy into the idea of Christ militant, and amillennialists certainly don't.

[More Than A Feeling]

3. I wonder how these loud disciples would feel if a mosque moved in

and started broadcasting its call to prayer?:eyes:

[Solo_in_MD]

4. There have been issues with that in cities that have gone in favor of the mosques

I for one would see it as an opportunity to open my own church adjacent to the muslims, the Church of the Sacred Sow. We would sound our own call to worship (Sooooeeee) from our tower in the shape of the Sacred Sow. Our sacrements would be beer and pork bbq. We would of course offer it to our muslim brothers as the walk to and from their services.

[DeSwiss]

5. LOL!!!

Please don't eat me!!!!

[DeSwiss]

6. Oh yeah...

...good one.


Make it stop!!!

[kiahzero]

8. The neighbors can (and should) seek an injunction.

They'd win a nuisance suit and be able to get an injunction against the loud noise.

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Closing doors and windows is one thing, but shouldn't they

be turning down the sound system, too?

And if they're located right up next to neighbors, then maybe what they ought to be thinking about is relocating somewhere where they won't be disturbing others.

Sunday is the Lord's day to them -- that's not a universal, and it would be helpful if they began with realizing that.

Heck, my church is next to a drug store. A not-very-well-attended one. On Sunday mornings, our lot is full to capacity and then some. They've got a big empty one right there. But it bugs them when non-customers use the lot. So, being good neighbors, we've always made it a point to ask our people not to park there. PITA, unnecessary (since if they're lucky there will be one customer all morning!), but that's what you do when you share space like that.