A pastor who opened his church 24/7 to provide homeless people with shelter and hope has been at conflict with an Ohio city over the building where his ministry is located for more than a year.
In a criminal proceeding, a local judge found Pastor Chris Avell guilty on Tuesday of breaking fire and zoning rules. However, his fight is far from over.
His lawyers have pledged to challenge the conviction. Last year, they filed a federal complaint alleging the city harassed and humiliated the church and its members.
While it challenges a different legal ruling that permits the city of Bryan to enforce its zoning and fire laws on the structure, the church, known as Dad’s Place, continues to be open to provide temporary shelter for individuals.
Why was the church taken over by the city?
According to Bryan Fire Chief Douglas Pool, the building’s lack of the required licenses for individuals to sleep inside Dad’s Place is the city’s top issue.
A year ago, inspectors discovered a number of code infractions before noticing that people were sleeping in the church. The city claims that although some of the problems have been resolved, the church still does not have a permit that would authorize overnight guests.
The installation of expensive upgrades, such as fire sprinklers, would be necessary to obtain the permission. According to the fire chief, the city must enforce the codes or risk being held accountable in the event of a disaster.
“If we don’t do anything, who’s going to get blamed?” Pool stated. “We’re in a position where we need to enforce the code.”
What is the church’s response?
Church lawyers contend that a federal law protects religious organizations from discrimination in zoning decisions and that the Constitution protects churches that assist the poor.
Additionally, the attorneys for Dad’s Place claim that the city has unfairly singled out the church by conducting a series of unexpected inspections in an attempt to scare the individuals seeking refuge.
They claim that sprinklers are not necessary for the city’s three hotels and two additional shelters. According to the city, those locations were operational prior to the state fire code’s requirement that residential buildings have sprinklers.
According to Jeremy Dys, an attorney with the First Liberty Institute, which is defending the church, “this city is trying to criminalize compassion in a very real way.” “People will definitely be left out in the cold if this place disappears.”
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How many people attend church regularly?
About 14 people stayed at the church, which is located adjacent to another shelter and a block from Bryan’s town square and county courthouse, this week as temperatures dropped into the single digits.
There are little around 9,000 people living in the city. According to a 2023 housing research, the surrounding county has some of the lowest rents in the area and low unemployment.
However, there is a lack of housing accessible at all income levels, and during the past 20 years, the number of new homes and apartments has not kept up with demand, according to Dawn Fitzcharles, the county’s housing specialist.
She claimed that it has made homelessness and the problem of working homeless people worse.
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What will happen to the shelter next?
Due to the anticipated appeal, the judge in this case has granted a 30-day delay of the $200 punishment imposed on the pastor. While the legal battle rages, Avell expects the church to keep running the shelter.
“Our calling and our mission hasn’t changed so far throughout this process. Nothing has changed it,” he stated on Thursday. “We just continue to do the work God’s called us to do, and trust him with the outcome.”
According to him, the people they assist “need not just a place to sleep, but a place where they can truly find hope and transformation.”
