Nashville, Tenn., church fights efforts to remove homeless camp from its yard

Tents are set up at a homeless camp at the Green Street Church of Christ, which is fighting efforts to have them removed. (Photo by Samuel M. Simpkins / The Tennessean)

As seen in Nashville’s The Tennessean:

Green Street Church of Christ has been on a mission to help Nashville’s homeless for years, but now the church says that mission is under fire.
In late June, the Metro Nashville Codes Department cited the church for having tents on the property where the homeless sleep, saying the property’s zoning does not allow camping.
The church vows to challenge the citation in court.
“It is the position of the church that they’re protected under federal statute and under the Constitution of the United States,” said William “Tripp” Hunt, the attorney representing the church.
Church leaders say they are following a biblical directive, in the 25th chapter of the book of Matthew, to help house the poor.

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• Feedback
  God bless you Green Street church!

  jthaney

  September, 18 2012

  If this were a congregation of an organized denomination, there would be a central legal entity able to go to bat for the mission of this one congregation. Since it’s a Church of Christ, does that mean we let Green Street fight for the right to house the homeless on their own, or does it instead mean that we each see the attack on one congregation in our fellowship as an attack on all of us, and respond with an outpouring of support that would dwarf anything that a traditional denominational hierarchy could muster?

  Jonathan Clemens

  September, 18 2012

  Is this consider “separation of church and state”? I applaud the church in following the words of Christ. Will they be allowed to stay there when it is cold? What happens when the number grows?
  Thanks Brethren
  Sis Willette Carlyle

  Willette Carlyle

  September, 26 2012

  IT’S A GREAT AND MUCH NEEDED WORK. I WILL HELP IN ANYWAY I CAN. I’M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THERE SHOULD BE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THE CHURCH TO GET TO THE EXACT MEANING OF THE LAW THAT IS GOING AGAINST THIS GOOD WORK. I WOULD START THERE WITH MUCH PRAYER PRECEDING EVERY MOVE TO KEEP GOD’S WORK GOING. YOU HAVE MY E-MAIL ……….GARY GURLEY….MILLINGTON, TN. 38053

  GARY GURLEY

  September, 26 2012

  Way to go Green Street brethren! You lead the way in sharing the love of Jesus. Where will the government back off? Will we have to stop giving food from our food pantries, helping families with our clothes closets, serving our elderly with “loaner” wheelchairs, canes, and walkers? Since when did government think it should do the “work of God’s people”? You are the hands and feet of Jesus!

  Mark Young, Trujillo, Colon, Honduras

  September, 27 2012

  I hope the church in Nashville will remember Act 5:29 and stand united against this incursion agaist the gospel. No earthly government has the right to conteract the command of God. Disciples stand fast now! The unless the church in Nashville unites and refuses to remove those tents, we will all suffer more at the hands of our godless government.

  Wesley N Dawson

  September, 27 2012

  Perhaps this issue could be dispensed with if each person in Nashville who calls themself a follewer of Jesus would take one homeless person home with them instead of housing them in tents. Just a thought…

  Steve Sr.

  September, 27 2012

  If this is the Green Street Church Of Christ on the Southside of Nashville, I was a memeber of that Church since i was a child. I am living on the west coast now. I appluded the member there for reaching out to people who are down and out. I the city is that concern about the people conition, why can’t they reach out and help? My God bless the leadership at Green Street COC.

  Don Wallace

  September, 27 2012