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Resident protests new church's possible location
(by Rachel Scofield, Staff Writer - June 18, 2009)
Four years ago, Ken Wright opposed Reynoldsburg City Council's decision to allow a church to open in the Century City shopping complex on Brice Road, and he plans to oppose a similar proposal before the current council.
Empowerment Worship Center (EWC) has applied to the council for a variance that would allow them to open a church in a former pool hall at Century City.
The request is on hold until EWC rectifies administrative issues with the church's application.
Wright said that in June 2005, he and a large group of like-minded individuals swarmed the council chambers to stop a different church from moving into the former Big Bear space within the same building.
Despite the "tremendous effort" to stop the storefront church, council granted that congregation permission to move into the former grocery store. Then the council "undermined a (referendum) petition" to place the issue on the ballot, Wright said.
He said as a result of their unwillingness to listen to the people of Reynoldsburg, the 2005 council members did not win re-election.
"Only one man remains who did listen, and that man is Mel Clemens," Wright said. "He kept faithful to his ward and the city."
"I thought we were going to clean this place up to create a front door facing Columbus," Wright said. "I ask council to listen to the people and I ask the administration to do the same, that's why we vote for you."
Wright told council members he wants more thought to go into what the city approves.
"It has gotten to the point where any storefront will do and I honestly believe God doesn't appreciate it," he said. "Throw in a couple of plastic chairs and hey, you got a church. People want to worship God in a beautiful, consecrated church. I guess I am an architecture buff."
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