Ohio church noise bothers neighbors

[Amelia]

Ohio church noise bothers neighbors

April 27, 2007

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MASSILLON, Ohio -- 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.

[olger]

"Sunday morning is God's day of worship,"

I question the accuracy of that statement.

olger

[aldona]

"Sunday morning is God's day of worship,"

I question the accuracy of that statement.

olger

Every day (and every night) is time to worship God. :PR

aldona

[Woody]

Very Good Aldona. Praise God. We can all learn a lesson from more tolerant of those who do not see things exactly as we do.

[Taylor]

Yes we absolutely need to be tolerante of others, I can completely agree.

If this service they are complaining about is mainly during the day they probably don't have a leg to stand on. However, if it is for night services and one can't sleep that could be a problem.

I once had a neighbor girl that was a sweet as she could be but she would play rock music at night and I couldn't sleep with my bed shaking. I spoke to her several times about it as it was truely a problem (it wouldn't have mattered if it was Beethovan's 5th or Rock of Ages it was the volume that was irritating.) well finally she decided to wear head phones...ahh that was a blessing I could sleep and she could enjoy her music!

[olger]

I lived next to Eddie Money's rhythm guitarist one summer. Loud! Eventually we became friends. That was the old Gerry..he died.

olger

[Dottie]

I remember one time when we were on our way to

Grandma's house on a Wednesday evening. Stopped at a gas station. There was a terrible noise coming from a building across the street. When I asked my dad what it was, he said, "It's just Holy Rollers." He told me what they were, and added some new words to my vocabulary.