Noise from C.P. church angers residents

[Lewis]

Noise from C.P. church angers residents


BY KATHLEEN QUILLIGAN
Kathleen.Quilligan@nwitimes.com
219.662.5331 | Monday, August 18, 2008 | 17 comment(s)

CROWN POINT | A Crown Point church in the middle of a month-long prayer festival is at the center of a city controversy after raking in numerous complaints from neighboring residents and at least six citations from the city's police department.

The city's Board of Works will hold a special meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 101 N. East St. Members of City Council have speculated the board may vote to pull a permit it issued in July for Living Stones Fellowship, 909 N. Pratt St. to erect a tent for the month of August.

Pastor Ron Johnson Sr. and Pastor Ron Johnson Jr. did not return phone calls seeking comment.

In a letter to the city, the church said meetings are scheduled at the church from July 31 to Aug. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to about midnight.

Since July 31the church has been issued five warnings and five citations between July 31 and Aug. 10 from neighbors complaining about the noise caused by the church, according to police reports.

"For some reason they're finding it difficult to be a good neighbor in a neighborhood," said Councilwoman Carol Drasga.

From her front porch, Dana Bell can look directly at the tent set up in the church's parking lot. Because the noise gets so loud, she said the family opens the windows all day to get the house as warm as possible so when they turn on the air conditioning it at night will run at least two hours straight to drown out the noise of the church while her children fall asleep. She also runs the washer, the dryer and a fan to help drown out the noise.

"I'd never be allowed to have a party for 31 days straight in my backyard," Bell said.

In a letter to Mayor David Uran dated Aug. 7, the church acknowledges a meeting with city officials to discuss the noise issues. "As we discussed, we believe what is happening in Crown Point is a genuine move of God and that it will bring much needed revival to our community and beyond...," the letter states. The letter also says beginning Aug. 11 the meetings will move inside the church Monday through Thursday. Friday through Sunday when the meeting is scheduled to be outside, the church agreed to keep the noise between 50 and 60 decibels.

Bell said the church has not been following those guidelines.

Councilmen Bill Feder, Mark Schweitzer and Bob Clemons walked around the neighborhood Saturday night during the meeting to hear the noise level for themselves. Schweitzer said at first, the level seemed tolerable, but the more they walked and the closer they got to the church the louder it became. Feder said the three witnessed the church being issued a citation for disturbing the peace.

"I feel bad, but I don't think the city should be determining what is an acceptable nuisance," Schweitzer said.

He said he'll support the mayor whether he decides to pull the permit or give the church another chance.

"But if the permit for the tent is revoked and the church continues (the meetings outside or in the tent), what happens? Is the city willing to fight?" Schweitzer said. "It's a nightmare."http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/08/18/updates/breaking_news/doc48a9de35ab38e969333970.txt

 

[Carol Lowery]

Wow, I guess it's more important how outsiders/neighbors feel than the movement of the Holy Spirit, and salvation being served. Our church was asked by the neighbors not to ring the church bells Sunday morning anymore. And I got to tell you when I was lost those church bells reminded me what I was missing. I got to where I looked forward to hearing them on Sundays and would step outside to hear them better. The sound was so beatiful as they play Amazing Grace over the town, I just loved it. Years later when I got saved and I started going to that church is when they stop them being rung on Sunday for the same reasons. Sad indeed.....

Kudos HIM,
Carol <><

 

[handy]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, yes a genuine movement by the Holy Spirit should not (and let's get real, won't be) stopped by a city government.

However, a nuisance is a nuisance. 60 decibels is an acceptable sound level. However, 80 is equitable to a lawn mower or a motorcycle. The article stated that the church agreed to keep the noise level at 60, but are not doing so. I would be totally angry if any neighbor of mine kept up that kind of noise, especially on a school night, until midnight.

And, I'll admit to a certain kind of prejudice of mine here: I find that generally these extremely obnoxious events that are supposed to be the "Holy Spirit" are usually anything but. Usually, these are grandstanding events that might get a lot of altar calls and excitment (and money), but very little true-life changing conversions for Christ.

 

[Carol Lowery]

Yeah Dora I can see your point on that with some tent revivals. I've went to one, one time with our choir and we stopped for a break from the bus and felt it was a good place to sit/stand/get a break from hours of riding. Ended up when they found out who we (Sounds of Praise) were, (we're well known on the eastcoast) cause we back up alot of gosple singers, INSP, Christian Jamboree at Christmas in the Collsium when all the gosple singers come, Gaithers, Carmen, Alvin Slaughter & son, comtempory christian singers, etc.etc. Benny Hinn at times etc. etc. and we're asked by many churches to travel and sing. But I got to say it was a wonderful experience in that particular little tent revival. Truly humbling and not filled with a bunch of showmanship. Was such a blessing to see so many come to Christ and God using us to usher in the movement of the Holy Spirit. But what really blest us was after it was done, the Pastor ask all of the spirit filled congregation to form two lines so that we could walk down them for all of them to lay hands on us and pray for us as went walk through....the Christ love we felt from them, well we all talked about it all the way home on the bus and we prayed for all of them that was there and just thanking God for leading us to that little tent revival.

But I'm sure there's many tent revivals that put a bad name on some tent revivals and they have to pay the price too....which is sad that it's that way. But personally I think they should put them out of city limits where it don't matter if they get rowdy for Jesus. And those showman's well God will turn it around for HIS glory, and deal with them later. Praise God I've never had to suffer the showmanship of fly by nighters for the almighty dollar instead of the Almighty's children.
Later gurl.......

Kudos HIM,
Carol <><

 

[Vic C.]

I am of the very same opinion as Dora. Community congregations have an obligation to be THE outstanding neighbor in a community. We are to go and make Disciples, not enemies.

Our church was asked by the neighbors not to ring the church bells Sunday morning anymore.

Carol, this is the opposite example. This is a community showing their disrespect by asking that something done out of a wonderful tradition and done only once a week or so be stopped and for what reason, I ask. :-?

 

[Carol Lowery]

Vic, I wondered the same thing myself, cause I got to tell you hearing those bells play Amazing Grace is one of the things the Lord used to beckon me to HIM. I would wonder what they were doing, and what was it all about behind those church doors. It stirred a curiosity in me to want to know HIM. Took about 5 years of listening to that sweet song being made by the most beautiful sounding bells.......and I miss them.

I asked my pastor why....he said to many complaints from surrounding neighbors. They were calling in to City Hall, calling the mayor, even calling the police. So out of respect to our surrounding neighbors we don't. We want them to come, not run. And he said the way The Sounds of Praise sings Carol, you all take the roof off and they can't pass this church without hearing you all glorifing our Lord with songs of joy....them that have an ear will hear.

But what I find amazing at times is a church I'd wondered what went on behind those doors, I now have kegs to.......and I say at times to myself as I put the keg in those beautiful front doors, who would ever think when I gone to the church to pray by myself that I have keys to my hearts desire, and Jesus brought me from the outside to the inside any time I want.

I love HIM so much, and I'm so grateful for those beckoning bells. But then I wonder how many people have missed it because they were'nt played on Sunday morning.

Kudos HIM,
Carol <><