"I'm sorry that you're thirsty sir but I'm not allowed to give you this free water bottle."
I haven't really let anybody know this yet, I certainly haven't released it to the blogosphere. About two weeks ago we were asked to leave Batavia Park District property (Batavia, IL) because we were passing out free water bottles that promoted our church plant and some upcoming events we were hosting.
The immediate reason that I was given was that we were, "violating Church and State Separation Laws." Of course that's ridiculous and the head honcho of the PD (park district) later confirmed that, while that's the reason we were given, it wasn't an accurate reason.
The real reason is that the Batavia Park District does NOT allow ANY group to assemble on its property without prior approval from the PD. (What is this China? We have to get government permission for everything we do?)
So, following the instruction of the PD we filled out the forms letting the PD know that we would, again, be passing out free water bottles as a church outreach event on park district property next week with our mission team.
We found out today that we have been DENIED access to the park district because of our intent to distribute and promote our church on public park district property. Ridiculous.
Immediately I called the ACLJ (praise God for these guys) for their help. They gave us a bit of advice and counsel and we will be working with them on this issue until it is resolved and we are granted equal access to the park district.
I really wasn't going to blog on this until I read about another "church/state" issue that was posted on the Founder's Blog this afternoon. Check it out here. The title, "Finally! Prayer in Public Schools" really caught my attention.
At any rate, we see these issues on the news every now and then and it's rare, at least for me, to think that we'll ever be involved in an instance where our rights, because we are Christians, are infringed upon.
I guess this is a wakeup call for me, and for you, to realize that the secularization of our society is closer to home than we think. It's a good idea for us to make sure we know and understand our rights so that we can be ready to defend them as we work in our communities to minister, build relationships, and advance the Kingdom.
7 comments:
i am fairly sure that any organization found in the act of self promotion on park district property would be asked to stop that activity and file the propper papers -- and in turn would be declined based on the fact that they were using public land to promote themselves. Please don't use the 'persecuted christian' slant to justify your lack of respect for the law or due process.
Actually, "anonymous" we have a protected right of free speech, whether "self promotion" or "anonymous" to say just about anything we want. The Supreme Court of the United States has sided with religious organizations in almost every case similar to our experience with this one. Checkout this website for more details http://www.aclj.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=367
Further, we’re not promoting ourselves; we’re promoting Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
We have absolutely no problem submitting to the governing authorities (Romans 13). We follow the speed limit, we pay taxes, we obey the laws of the land.
However, as with the Apostles (see Acts and Paul's "prison epistles") we'd rather be thrown in jail than have our right to share the Gospel infringed upon.
On top of that, it is a Christian commandment to make disciples, just like Muslims praying five times a day, which is why they're allowed to pray in that San Diego school now. Just because most Christians aren't very outgoing about sharing their faith doesn't mean we are afraid to do it.
We’re already following up this case with the people who protect our rights and will have an answer on Batavia’s invalid and unlawful ordinance by tomorrow so that we can be back at Quarry Park on Friday afternoon. (If we didn’t respect “the law or due process” we would have already been back).
"pastor jamie"
i understand that we all have a right to free speech... sorry i identified myself as anonymous in my previous post.
i also understand that you have a mission. i just don't necessarily agree that your mission or anyone else's mission has the right to say "just about anything" you want... as you stated, the supreme court has sided with "almost" every case, which means there is definitely still room for interpretation.
As i am sure you will agree, some areas of free speech can be considered harmful or 'against your mission' and i am sorry, but you are promoting yourself when you promote jesus christ and his gospel as a justification for your views on salvation and as an open admission of your blind faith.
At first blush one of the issues here is the balance between your right to say "anything" you want" "wherever and" "whenever" you choose, with the rights of others not to be intruded upon.
There are some nuances however. How about simple courtesy and sensitivity for others? How about the "indirect" ways of talking to people instead of talking directly? How about sending children around the neighborhood inviting other children to come to your home for ice cream and a picnic? Is there a thought that parnets might be just a bit uneasy when the kids come around (not adults) with the flyers advertising what is clearly NOT just an activitiy to meet and know your neighbors, which could be done by YOU walking to THEIR homes and introducing yourself and family, but a regularly activity which is part of the church proselytising effort? Forget about the law, what will it take for you to stop being discourteous?
Sure I can spell "parents" and "regular". I was too angry to use spell check.
BootNumLock:
I absolutely agree that some parts of free speech can be harmful. You can’t walk into a crowded theatre and shout “FIRE”; you can’t go to the airport and say “BOMB.” These things are against the law.
And there may be some things that are “harmful” to our mission that we can do lawfully, like pass out free water bottles or free bibles or free food. “Harmful” in the sense that these things tick people off and turn them away. However, these things are perfectly legal.
We’re offering people free invitations to events, free bibles, free water. They can take it or leave it. There is no obligation to take or refuse it. This is, technically, called leafleting.
Soliciting on the other hand, which we don’t do, is going door to door selling or asking for money. When someone solicits they are asking the residents of the home or business to make an on the spot decision to buy, or contribute. The courts have always viewed leafleting much more casually than soliciting simply because a person can just hold their hand up and say “No” to a piece of paper or publication. Whereas in soliciting the resident is forced into a conversation or sales presentation.
If you don’t like what we have to say, or what we’re doing, you can simply say “No” and be on your way.
As for “Blind Faith” I wouldn’t be who I am today (a Christian and a Pastor) if it wasn’t for evidence. I’m a person who didn’t grow up in a church; I didn’t become a Christian until I was an adult. I’m a super logical person who can usually find an explanation for a lot of “miraculous” happenings. I didn’t come to believe because of “Blind Faith.” I came to believe because of all the amazing evidence.
A Christian who says, “All you have to do is believe” is a Christian that probably just doesn’t know how much evidence for Christianity is really out there.
We’re a group of Christians who don’t “check out brains at the door.”
Yurkiddinme:
I’m a little confused by your comments. Are you suggesting that we have kids go invite other kids or are you saying that my wife and I should go invite other them personally?
If you’re referring to the children, high school students, college students and adults that have been passing out invitations around your neighborhood I’ll just mention that they (all of them) are a church group from out of state who came up here to help us out this week. They have been going around with their parents trying to meet and invite families to our events.
They are helping us do work that we could not do on our own (or would really just take us so much longer to do.)
I’m extremely open to your comments and suggestions about how we can be more courteous and sensitive. In your mind, what would be a better strategy?
Praying for all the details to be worked out and always for the glory of God!!!
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