Ban on family prayer meetings?

[Lynda/WA]

A city in Conneticut had a ban on family prayer meetings. Recently the ruling allowing this ban was overturned. The city argued that having a family prayer meeting turned the house into a church and that violated zoning laws.
Your thoughts? Should you be allowed to have friends over to your house to discuss your chosen religion or not?

[Jeff]

yes

[Mickey]

I think you should be allowed to have prayer groups in your home. The "family" part of the "family prayer group" threw me--I thought they were trying to ban mom, dad, grandma and the kids from praying in a group in their living room.

Anyway, I'm not sure why a prayer group wouldn't be permitted--not sure if I buy the "zoning" thing--sounds like a legal way around another issue? Were there complaints about a lot of cars obstructing the road and causing problems in that respect? Not clear on the reasoning. Are they fearful of cults? Was there money exchanging hands tax-free in these groups?

[Diane]

I don't think that anyone has the right to tell you when or where you can or can not pray or who you can have over to do it. The zoning thing just sounds like another lame excuse to stop people from praying. What next? 8o

Diane :wave:

[Amy2]

That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Absolutely ridiculous.
Amy

[kat]

I'm floored! My first thoughts are the people are the church not the building. My body is the temple of God, a living sacrifice. First century christians did just that: worshiped in their homes. Sounds to me like another attempt to ban prayer, period.

[Mickey]

The more I've thought about this, the more the zoning thing doesn't seem so far out there IF the meetings are causing parking problems, lots of traffic, etc.

My neighbor runs a music equipment rental company out of his garage and quite frankly, I'm getting sick to death of all the vehicles in front of my house--they have their cars, SUV as well as a large moving trailer and at least one (often two) HUGE moving van in our cul-de-sac at any given time. It started out as a few pieces of equipment being transported in their SUV or trailer, but it has gotten WAY out of hand. My neighborhood is not zoned for a business and I'm getting extremely sick of this. Several times my driveway was blocked and I couldn't get into my garage.

If the prayer meetings brought three or four cars once a week to a neighborhood, I don't see a problem with it. But if there are 20 cars trying to park on the street several nights a week (especially in areas where parking is scarce) and delivery trucks delivering books, materials, etc. and moving vans going back and forth with donations or whatever, I can see a big problem with that. At that point, I feel it needs to be taken to an area that is zoned for such activity.

[Brichard]

Well Mickey, I think there are two seperate issues here.

The first issue is "Should you be allowed to Have Prayer Groups at Home" and the undeniable answer to that is yes. The reason our forefathers settled here was for religious freedom and we all have that right.

The second issue is should you have a bunch of cars parked in front of you. I'm not sure where you live, but many subdivisions have regualtions on parking on the street. Our neighborhood allows parking on the street, but no boats, etc. So, there may be laws in place to help you out there regardless of the activity. The other subdivisions we lived in had rules banning parking on the street. People normally didn't complain if you broke the rule for a party or something that required extra parking as long as you didn't abuse it.

However, if there are no such laws I think you are out of luck. Heck, you could have a very social neighbor who throws ****tail parties all the time that keep the roads jammed with cars. But, if they arent' breaking any laws, what can you do?

And really all of the Bible studies I have been involved in are relatively small. The genuine goal is to get a more intimate setting then one would find in a church and it is tough to do once you get over 4-5 couples at a time.

If there is a big congregation of people for praying the more appropriate place would be the church itself, and that is what I have seen as the norm rather then the exception.

But one thing that I don't understand about this is motive. Why would somebody care if you prayed or not? Sounds like an irritable neighbor or something who has too much free time! lol

[Amy2]

Well, Mick, great points as usual. I guess I jumped to the assumption that it was about prayer, but what you bring up makes a lot of sense. Also, what if the group worships to music and it is loud? I went to a church once where the band rocked out! This could present a problem for people.

A friend/neighbor of mine has a yoga studio attached to their home. The car thing is a big issue they are very conscientious of.

Amy

[Lynda/WA]

Now that people have posted their opinions - a little more info.

The man having the family prayer meetings has been bedridden for the last 5 years. The people coming to his home are members of the Roman Catholic church they belong to. This is in a cul-de-sac although that wasn't mentioned by the zoning committee. I don't think rules are different for those houses in the cul-de-sac than those at the ends of them or around the corner on the street? Didn't hear anything about noise.

How many people have attended the meetings and how long they last is in dispute. The complainers (neighbors) have said 75 people for 8 hours at a time. I got the impression the neighbors are claiming it's for more than one day a week. The city has said 25 people for up to 2 hours on Sundays. The family has said no more than 25 and usually 10-15 for up to 2 hours on Sundays. Nmber of cars wasn't mentioned. Since the city and family basically agree on people and time I suspect the neighbors are exaggerating. Could be that since this man is bedridden that there is an increased amount of traffic to his house do to that and the neighbors don't realize when the person is a nurse or a visitor and assume everyone is there to have a prayer group.

I think the family part of family prayer meeting comes in because its the whole family. Parents and Children counted in those stats. The man has said he considereds these people *family* as well.

If my Dad's family had attended that would have accounted for 20 of those 25 people! It sounds to me like this is about 3-5 families coming over to their house, maybe after church to support him in his illness and pray.

This all came to light when they requested permits to make another driveway and add on a family room. The family has said these additions have nothing to do with the prayer meetings. They were told the permits were denied because of the family prayer group.

The zoning commission hasn't requested a restriction on number of vehicles to be parked by a home as a result of this case. Number of vehicles was a complaint of the neighbor but not mentioned by the zoning commission. The zoning commissions says they feel a restiction of 10-12 people is appropriate whether its a book club or prayer group.

If they make a restriction on number or people, I and my neighbors will be in trouble! Just extended family OR co-workers OR friends adds up to 10-12 people! I've been to Tupperware, Mary Kay, Home Interior an other parties with more than 12 people. Boy and Girl Scout groups couldn't meet at someone's home. For that matter my Dad's family would be considered to large to visit another family!

The complaintants have said that cars have been parked to block their drive. I'm skeptical. They have also said it is hard to get out equipment like boats. I bet that's the real problem! If the neighbors across the street or next door are parked on the street it takes DH more time to get the boat out. And weekends are great for stuff like that. They're also said that then their kids can't ride their bikes. I think that's the real problem. The neighbors want the street for their own use and don't want this family to use it even that one day.

Since the city has lost in court (at least the latest time), they are looking for another way to limit the number of people you can have over. Sounds like zoning laws were used to try and do this.

[RCT]

Originally posted by Amy
That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Absolutely ridiculous.
Amy

I agree completely......:{

[netmechwife]

I agree with Kat. Also I think it's silly to be restricted on how many people can come over to your house.... And like someone said... What about home based businesses or hosting parties? I think Linda is right that the neighbors are probably just annoyed that it interferes with what they want to do. But I have never met a person who wouldn't move their car to let someone else out... Maybe there are some... And what about families with lots of children having get togethers?