Guilford Park Presbyterian Church: Practicing Christian Hypocrisy
Yesterday I went to my acupuncture appointment over at The Lotus Center, it was pouring down rain but I parked in the street and walked across a gravel parking lot belonging to the church. When Michele moved into the new location she made maps for all of her customers to the new location with careful note to please park in the street as the empty lot belonged to the church. With the rain as hard as it was, I toyed with the idea parking in the empty gravel lot rather than walking across it to maybe stay a little dryer. The lot however had a chain across it, no big deal really, the rain wasn't cold.
I get to the front door and I find a letter taped to it. It was from a lawer's office. I won't mention it's name but if you rearrange the first letters of the partner's names, B, P, M, H, and L, you can spell BLMPH (pronounced "Blimp"). The two page letter contains three lies, an a misunderstanding, all wrapped in the sterotypical "vague threat" that one has come to expect from lawyers everywhere thanks to television, newspapers, and real life.
What makes a church threaten an acupuncturist? Apparently the occasional customer had been parking in the gravel lot next to The Lotus Center and fire, and brimstone is threatened to follow from the hands of gods own law service whom the almighty seems to have on retainer.
Now me, I agree with you completely. If Michele's customers were keeping the lot even half full during business hours that might impact the church's parking when they need it. I suspect you also figure that Michele could just go over and ask for permission to rent the lot during business hours. A good idea. She thought so to, because she approached the church before she bought the house, as she was moving into the house, and after she was moved into the house. She and her husband offered money and landscaping so that her customers might use the lot during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8am til 5pm). The Church said no each time, which is their right to do.
Shel, Michele's husband, who has a passion for landscaping and bicycling, has even found him self "shunned" by church members. One day he sees them out working on a path on their grounds near the business and he goes over and offers to grab his shovel and pitch in to help. They didn't even acknowledge that he had spoken. None of them would even look at him as he tells it. Some of you in Greensboro might have met Shel through his bicycling interest. If there is any sort of public meeting about bicycle or pedistrian initiatives in Greensboro, you are sure to see him there. For those who have not met him, take my word for it, he's probably one of the nicest, most laid back individuals you will ever meet. Their behavior towards him seemed pretty far from christain. Unless of course they are Puritians and not really presbies. I remember in US history that the Puritians were always shunning somebody.
Turns out the chain across the lot was put there to specifically to keep customers out. Perfectly in their right to do, and very economical I might add. But apparently not enough, as the church is kicking out some serious dough to make the lot completely inaccessable even down to redoing the sidewalks so you cannot enter the lot from Lawndale or Bluemont. They are even planning to put up a fence to keep people out. Extreme, expencive, but completely within their rights. I am glad that the church is making so much money they can do all that and still have enough to do all of the good christian acts and programs that christian charities are famous for.
Eariler I said that the lawyer's letter had three lies and a misunderstanding in it. Some of you, especially you esquire types, are probably waiting impatiently for me to comment further on that. I will list them.
First the misunderstanding: "In addition, you have now begun forcing customers of your business to use the Church's parking lots by placing an orange traffic cone in the driveway at 2412 so that customers fo your business cannot user your own driveway."
I suppose it looks that way to them. There is infact an orange cone in the driveway. The reason for it is simple, a. anyone who parks in the driveway is going to get blocked in by the car that parks behind them. b. Anyone who parks in the driveway is going to have to back onto Lawndale drive, no easy feat, even for the folks who have houses in that area. There is a shopping center across the street, and traffic is hairy at best. Blocking the driveway does two things only, a. it keeps customers from being blocked in, and b. it keeps customers from getting into auto accidents.
Now for the lies:
Lie Number One: "...you have encouraged customers of your business to park in the Church's parking lots" The first I knew they were moving to the new location was when they gave me my appointment card and a map with directions to the location and specific note not to park in the lot but to park in the street.
Lie Number Two: (And this is a stretch)...those parking lots are required for the Church's own use, not only during hours of worship on Sunday but for Nursery School, Senior Citizens, Youth, Bible Study and other programs occurring at the Church throughout the week. The Bluemont lot is never filled to capacity. In fact it never really has cars in it except for during worship hours that I have seen. (And those do not fall during business hours anyway) I can't believe the way they are behaving that they are really seriously optimistic about ever filling all of their parking lots. So while it may not exactly be a "lie", it clearly falls into the category of "weak ass excuse".
Lie Number Three:...your blatant attempt to further your own commercial interests at the expense of the church. Does that sound christian to you?
Lie Number Four: The Church has a long history of being a good neighbor to the owners of houses that border the Church's property on Lawndale Avenue. Really, than why are you being such a poo poo head in this letter? This sounds more like legal representation for a politician, not a church. Why are you trying to buy the surrounding houses only to tear them down? Why are there people putting in their will language stating that you may not buy their property upon their untimely demise? They don't even want you to have their house "over their dead bodies".
Still, I say, and I say again. Those parking lots are theirs to do with as they will. If they say "No your customers can't park there." than it is settled. If you want to spend money to rework the parking lot so it will be impossible for people to park there, that is totally your call and I respect your wishes to do so. I do however think that it is an awful lot of mean spiritedness, cost and bother to stop customers of The Lotus Center from using your lot during business hours.
Especially in light of the fact that they never have more than three cars a the business at any one time. Michele can only really handle two patients at once staggered thirty minutes apart for their one hour treatments. That's two cars. The third is only occasionally when someone comes in to buy herbal tea that they couldn't get during their own appointment.
All of this over three cars???? Don't you guys have souls to save or something?
Comments
Woody,
I am so glad you brought this up. I unfortunately was one of the ones who parked in the parking lot at first - but I really didn't know that I wasn't supposed to or that it even belonged to the church. I obviously parked on the street this morning and Michelle was very polite and professional about the whole situation. I really hope that they are able to work out some agreement - because the way they are treating Michelle and her husband is not what I would consider "Christian" either. I understand and respect their right to use their parking lot in any way they choose - and restrict the use of their parking lot in whatever way that they choose. But, I do wonder if the nature of Michelle's business and social sterotypes and biases are getting in the way of good old fashioned methods of communication. If they took the time to get to know Michelle and her husband, I think that they wouldn't have to feel like they had to be so militant in their actions against them.
Just my opinion.
Posted by: Leslie | October 7, 2005 1:15 PM
WWJATP?
(Who Would Jesus Allow To Park?)
Posted by: PotatoStew | October 7, 2005 2:07 PM
Wow – the sins that they have committed in this one letter. Not to mention just how closed minded the entire letter is. I thought the Presbyterians were a denomination of well educated and thoughtful people. I had even played with the idea of attending the downtown Presbyterian church (props to Sid Batts and his radio spots - he truly comes across as a wise and gentle soul) This letter is saturated in ignorance and thoughtlessness.
But I digress...
Pride: Seeing oneself as better, above, or somehow greater than someone else is Pride. One of the main points seemed to be "you and your customers are heathen, and therefore not good enough to step foot on our property". What these people don't seem to understand is that Oriental Medicine is not medicine for heathens any more than the hospitals and doctor offices is medicine solely for the righteous. Oriental Medicine is a means by which people enhance their health, just like exercising or taking vitamins. Note: Ignorance and Pride often go hand in hand.
Avarice/Greed: refers to any type of greed - including Greed of Power and Greed of Fear. This was clearly an attempt to dominate or intimidate the owners of the Lotus center.
Note:I don't think God appreciates it when we try to control everything and everyone.
Greed of Fear - the attempt to "horde" - you know "just in case they run out" of space. Note: Perfect love casts out fear. Love your neighbor and live in harmony with them. They have offered to share expense, time, and upkeep. They don't want something without paying, they even want to share the responsibility with you. The fact they you and your members only acknowledge them enough to chastise them for your perception of wrong doing speaks MOUNTAINS of who you and your organization are being in the world.
Envy: “Love is patient. Love is kind…” Love actively seeks the good of others for their sake. Envy resents the good others receive of even might receive. Your church clearly resents the fact that the Lotus Center receives patients and could utilize the space better than your church can.
Wrath/Anger: The tone of the letter was one of calculated anger. Kindness means taking a tender approach with patience and compassion. The letter shows none of this. Only that the sender is quite angry and petty. Love is not angry or petty.
I find it sad that my introduction to this church was clearly so un-Christian and so counter to how I am sure the good members of the congregation would want to be represented.
This church, - that is obviously threatened by a loving husband and wife team whose purpose is to provide affordable health maintenance and alternatives for people whom conventional medicine has either failed or has been cost prohibitive and who has offered to partner with this church in the responsibility and cost for the property, - should really take a look at themselves and who they are being in the world. This behavior is certainly not very conducive to spreading God’s love to the world.
Posted by: Sara | October 7, 2005 2:37 PM
Contact information for the Church. Send you jeers or cheers, but please be nice.
Posted by: Woody Cavenaugh | October 7, 2005 2:48 PM
Just to point out the pettyness - they are threatening to erect a fence to keep people from even WALKING through the parking lot. A bit much, don't you think?
Posted by: sara | October 7, 2005 2:51 PM
So is their beef with the parking lot or is it the business thats run next door?
Posted by: Beth | October 7, 2005 3:52 PM
*facepalm*
I wonder which section of Presbyterian they are. There's PCUSA, which my current church and First Presbyterian in downtown Greensboro belong to (and we loved First Presbyterian while we were there). And then there's the Presbyterian Church of America, which seems to be more conservative and fundie.
Either way, what the church is doing is the epitome of petty. Stupid, stupid religious people.
Posted by: Shannon | October 9, 2005 8:59 AM
Jesus told us all to love our neighbors as ourselves. I am not seeing this in what I have read here. My prayer for Michelle and her husband is that someone in authority at said church will realize the lack of love in their actions. I of course have only heard one side, but feel what I am reading is truth. I am a member of Irving Park United Methodist Church and am taught by all United Methodist Churches that all are welcome and that I should never judge another.United Methodists are taught to give the peace of Christ. Respecting our Lords wishes is not a suggestion, but a law.
Posted by: Gracie | October 10, 2005 12:44 PM
I'm sure there may be other reasons for the church not wanting to rent out parking places--it could jepordise their tax free status since they would now be engaged in a business enterprise and the church may not want to open themselves up for lawsuits steming from injuries that could occur from trips and falls.
I had an experience while a member of a country Baptist church. The community was wanting to build a recreation center for its youth, an endeavor our church wholeheartly endorced. We had a very nice piece of property on which we had a clubhouse and a nice ballfield erected and offered to allow the new Recreation Commision to use our facilities free of charge thus reducing their investment in facilities and freeing up their land for other purposes. Citing the first amendment, the community refused to entertain our offer unless we donated all of the church property to the community.
I'm sure there would be a problem if the church had no prarking lot and the members there took up all other avaiable parking so the doctor had no where for her patients to park.
Posted by: Dale | October 18, 2005 8:21 AM
Dale - I don't think anyone is buying your explanation.
Posted by: anon | January 11, 2006 10:20 AM
It is my understanding from The Lotus Center that some sort of agreement is in the works that both sides are happy with.
Definately good news for all involved. I will keep you posted as I learn more.
Posted by: Woody Cavenaugh | January 11, 2006 10:24 AM
I stumbled across this while looking for something unrelated. However, I read it with some interest.
It seems to me that the simplest solution to this "problem" would be for everyone to respect everyone else's property, and not make assumptions about how one party's religious (or alternative medical, for that matter) perspectives ought to govern their policies about their own private property. You might not know this, but if one of your customers were to become injured, assaulted, etc. while on church property, the church would likely be held liable in court.
It is no more hypocritical or unchristian of the church to deny your customers use of their parking lot than it is un-acupuncture-like of your clients to trespass on church property..
This is a simple private property matter, no more, no less.
Posted by: Brad Howard | January 13, 2006 7:51 PM
The Lotus Center folks have purchased insurance and have done all that has been asked of them by the church that would allow them to use the lot. Maybe this will end the discussion along with the percieved ill-will between the two.
Posted by: Sara | February 21, 2006 5:14 PM
KEEEEEPPPP OFFFFFFFFF HEREEEEEEOOOOO
Posted by: IYKE MONTE | November 10, 2006 8:04 AM
I sometimes cut through the parking lot with my dogs. I have never seen a sign posted. Maybe they should put one up. I will definately not tread through their space again. I didn't know their church members could not come see a neighbor in person, and be responsible, Christian adults about an obvious oversight. They sent a letter from an attorney? I thought they like to send their money to charities, not support local attornies. What blatant hypocrisy. When's the next book burning?
Posted by: Julia | December 5, 2007 9:52 PM