Politics & Government
Is Church Too Loud? Easton Says No
Easton officials considered revising city noise laws but deemed it unnecessary after congregation makes its case.
Easton city council members said Tuesday evening they will revisit the city noise ordinance after about 20 members of attended the council's workshop meeting about the matter.
Responding to the complaints of nearby West Ward resident Terrence Miller at a recent council meeting, who alleged the church has made excessive amounts of noise on Sundays, disturbing the peace of the neighborhood, had considered revising city noise laws.
Speaking for the church Pastor Michael Brown said his congregation follows the Bible's instruction to “praise Jehovah.”
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“Praise is not just noise...This is not a joke to me...I think it's for everyone to worship as they're given,” Brown said. "We're just a church, and I don't think we're loud.”
He added that Miller had donated a drum set to the church shortly after he'd moved to the neighborhood and expressed disappointment Miller wasn't present to discuss the issue.
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Miller contacted Patch Wednesday morning, and said he would be at that night's city council meeting to voice his objection. He also sent along a YouTube clip posted last year, that he says was taken 100 feet from the church.
Councilman Jeff Warren said he agreed to look at the ordinance because it seemed like the church might be bothering a number of people, but stressed that he had reservations about government interfering with religion.
"I don't think anyone is trying to infringe on anyone's place of worship. I just want to make that clear," Warren said. "I'm not trying to infringe any new policy, or change the way you worship."
Councilman Mike Fleck said he'd attended the church's service recently to see if the complaints had merit.
"It wasn't loud,” Fleck said. "The way it was portrayed to us was like a rock concert every weekend, and it wasn't like that. It just wasn't."
He added, "You could tell it was just people at church having a good time. There was just 20, 25 people praising the lord."
No complaints have been received from other residents, nor do the police have record of complaints, city officials said.
