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Proposed church location stirs debate
(by Rachel Scofield, Staff Writer - June 25, 2009)
Empowerment Worship Center (EWC) requested a variance from Reynoldsburg City Council to open its church in the empty pool hall of the Century City strip mall on Main Street.
Resident Ken Wright opposed the request.
"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."
Wright said that in 2005 a different church planned to move into the same shopping center and community members flooded the council chambers to object.
The council members who approved that variance did not win re-election, Wright said.
"Ken Wright spoke for Ken Wright - not me," Reynoldsburg resident and community activist Bruce Sowell said. "He did not speak for what's in my heart for the common good. Preacher Charles T. Clark saved my life in a church he started in his basement."
World Harvest Church began as a storefront church as well, Sowell said.
Wright said he does not know the leader of EWC, but if he wishes to serve "the common good, we should welcome him and embrace him and help him out with his vision to help people in the community. I would rather see a church than an empty storefront."
The issue is currently on hold until some clerical issues are resolved.
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