COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A Christian church in Ohio filed a federal lawsuit this week after its pastor was charged with violating city ordinances when he opened up the sanctuary around the clock for homeless people and others to find shelter.Police this month filed 18 criminal charges against Dad’s Place church Pastor Chris Avell over allegations the rented church building — located by a separate homeless shelter along Main Street in Bryan, a city of about 8,600 in northwestern Ohio — was violating the zoning ordinance, lacked proper kitchen and laundry facilities, and had unsafe exits and inadequate ventilation.
An attorney for Avell and the church, Jeremy Dys, said he thinks city leaders don’t want the ministry in the middle of town, describing it as a “not in my backyard” issue and accusing officials of inventing problems.
“Nothing satisfies the city,” Dys said Monday, hours after the lawsuit was filed. “And worse — they go on a smear campaign of innuendo and half-truths.”
An initial meeting with the federal judge and lawyers for Bryan and the church was scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Avell, who pleaded not guilty during in municipal court Jan. 11, said in a release that his church wants to welcome anyone “to experience the love and truth of J …
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An attorney for Avell and the church, Jeremy Dys, said he thinks city leaders don’t want the ministry in the middle of town, describing it as a “not in my backyard” issue and accusing officials of inventing problems.
“Nothing satisfies the city,” Dys said Monday, hours after the lawsuit was filed. “And worse — they go on a smear campaign of innuendo and half-truths.”
An initial meeting with the federal judge and lawyers for Bryan and the church was scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Avell, who pleaded not guilty during in municipal court Jan. 11, said in a release that his church wants to welcome anyone “to experience the love and truth of J …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]