San Diego Pastor & Wife Told They Can't Have Bible Study Group In Their Home!

by minimus 30 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Warlock

  It's coming soon enough, Bro.

  I know.

  The sooner the better, so the religion haters here can finally have their mass orgasm.

  Warlock
• 

  WuzLovesDubs

  I tell you what...I lived in a suburban neighborhood outside Chicago and had the bookstudy at my house. 20 people came in about 15 cars every single week and thats a lot of frickin vehicles. During the winter if there was 1 inch or more of snow or snow was expected, NOBODY could park on the streets! I had to personally make sure that they had somewhere to park when they came and that meant shoveling my own drive, my terrace, and begging some of the neighbors to let me borrow their drives and in turn agreeing to shovel THEIR driveways to accommodate all of them every week. My husband would of course, not even be home for all this. Hed mozy on in at about 7:25 and throw his monkey suit on and sit down like he had done ANYTHING.

  I personally would be upset if someone was basically running a CHURCH from their home and imposing on MY space and street with their parishioners every week. They SHOULD have something to say about it. I dont care if its a Bible study group, AVON parties or ORGIES...you cant be allowed to impose on the people around you.
• 

  Finally-Free

  I dont care if its a Bible study group, AVON parties or ORGIES...you cant be allowed to impose on the people around you.

  Orgies would be ok as long as I was invited.

  W
• 

  blondie

  I went to several book studies with parking problems. In one case it prompted vandalism by the neighbors. We finally learned to park some distance away in a public parking area and walk up to the house. The neighbors had called the police who suggested this for the sake of peace. No problem now unless the noise coming and going to the meetings at the KH drive the neighbors nuts.

  Blondie
• 

  snowbird

  Great now Snowbird is preaching about "the great Tribulation."

  Why does that make you angry?

  Just curious.

  Sylvia
• 

  Warlock

  Keep preachin' Snowy.

  Warlock
• 

  SnakesInTheTower

  It is not a religious issue though I am sure they will make it one.

  The issue is logisticsand safety. If there is enough room in the couple's driveway (if there is one) to accommodate all of their "guests", then no one has the right to complain....assuming that they keep noise levels down. However, if the is no driveway (or limited driveway), and the "guests" have to park on the street, then that is where the issue comes up. For an occasional party then that is just life in the city. First come, first served. If someone is having a party (or a bible study) every week and attracting lots of vehicles, then that is going to cause problems.

  Where the couple crosses the line is that they are apparently in violation of zoning ordinances. A church zoning is different than a residential zoning. In my town we have residential zoning (R1 and R2 is single family; R3 is mixed, single family; R4 is multiple family (apartments, condos) and R5 is manufactured homes (trailers) and is restricted to a mobile home park). Churches have to apply for special use permits for just the reason in this case..it is causing parking and/or traffic problems...to get input from the neighbors on how an exception to the usual use of a property will affect everyone else. I think forcing them to apply for a permit and making the process transparent for public input is a good thing.

  minimus:

  Personally, I think the government has no right to tell people they can't meet up for Bible study.

  I agree with certain exceptions. If the people want to all come in a single van (instead of 5-10 cars clogging up the street), and the house/property can accomodate the number of guests (for whatever purpose...bible study, frat party, tupperware, etc) without violating fire codes for number of occupants in a building, then yeah no problem..have the gathering.... But if parking is an issue, then the government has the obligation to protect the rights of all the people in a neighborhood. The purpose of the gathering is irrelevant but will be used to inflame the argument.

  I have a personal stake in issues like this. My residential street is very narrow and barely can accomodate two cars passing each other slowly. My neighbor insists on parking on the street in front of their house, this despite the fact they have a perfectly good driveway that has room for two cars. It is legal but it is not safe. Their car blocks my view of traffic coming from that direction. There is no safe way for me to back out of my drive when they park there. I got hit recently because of this. (This cost me $500 deductible on my insurance to fix my car, $100 for the ticket, and $159 for the useless lawyer that was supposed to fix the damn thing when all he did was do what I could have done. This does not include whatever rate hike I will get come renewal.)

  Every other tenant that has lived next door has not parked there when I point this out. These idiots (until recently) have insisted on their rights. I am trying to get the city to restrict the parking on this block since everyone has driveways that can accomodate at least two vehicles......until then....idiots have rights....

  Snakes ()
• 

  minimus

  If there are laws stating that parking is not permitted and someone still parked in a no parking zone, that's a different issue. That is not a first amendment issue.
• 

  Tuesday

  The police don't have to ban it, if there was a petition there were enough people annoyed by it. They should all just organize and petition to make their road a no parking zone after certain hours. Either that or weekly call the police to tow the cars blocking their driveway. You can make anything a hassle enough that people will stop.
• 

  minimus

  The problem starts with asking what they are religiously doing within the home. Those alleged specific questions making this a religious rights issue.