What would YOU do?

[rbell]

OK, so your the minister at a church. You have a church bell, that with the exception of a 2-3 year stretch (mechanical problems) a few years ago, has rang for 100+ years.

It used to ring several times per day and all night. It has evolved into a couple times per day--one of those at 7 a.m.

Well, now...there's been a complaint. And of course, the city is threatening legal action, fines, etc. No surprises there.

The question: What would you do? Keep ringing? Comply? Try and make it softer? Fight the charges in court? Burn a Koran? (kidding on the last one)

What would be your course of action?

Background for this: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/h...urch_bell__neighbor_complains.html?page=2&c=y

 

[SaggyWoman]

1. Burn the bell.

2. Love tradition, watch Fiddler on the roof, and play the bell.

3. Think of how Christ-like it is to ring the bell at 7 a.m. in the morning. Adjust it to ring at 11 p.m. at night.

4. Relish in the fact that the church has been noticed, not for it's concern about things that Christ would have us concerned about, but for the fact that it rings a bell.

 

[SBCPreacher]

Be sensitive to your neighbors. Have the bell first sound at 9am and last at 7pm.

Then... go to the neighbor and apologize. An "I'm sorry" can go a long way in reaching people for Christ.

Just my humble (but accurate) opinion.

 

[abcgrad94]

Even telemarketers aren't supposed to call between the hours of 9p.m. and 9a.m. I wouldn't ring the bell during those hours, either.

We had a similar situation a few years ago in my in-laws town. The church bells weren't just ringing, they were ringing out entire hymns at least once a day. It was beautiful and a blessing to many, but the neighbors pitched a fit saying the bells were too loud and gave them headaches. So, the ringing stopped and so did the threat of lawsuits.

 

[annsni]

I'd go with ringing it first at 8 AM (or 9 AM - whatever the ordinances are for leaf blowers).

 

[billwald]

I would remember that if the neighborhood got a mosque they would want to play a call to prayer from a PA system 5 times a day.

 

[rbell]

Reminds me of the old joke about the poor fella who lost both arms and both legs in a terrible accident.

He wanted to continue serving the church. Before his injury, he would ring the church bell every Sunday.

And with marked effort, he kept up that job. But the only way he could do it, was to get up the stairs, lean toward the bell, and smack it with his noggin.

But alas; one day, he lost his balance and fell several stories to his death. Moments after the fall, two passers-by walked up to where he fell.

Said one, "Did you know this guy?"
Said the other, "I'm not sure of his name, but hs face rings a bell."

 

[rbell]

Reminds me of the old joke about the poor fella who lost both arms and both legs in a terrible accident.

He wanted to continue serving the church. Before his injury, he would ring the church bell every Sunday.

And with marked effort, he kept up that job. But the only way he could do it, was to get up the stairs, lean toward the bell, and smack it with his noggin.

But alas; one day, he lost his balance and fell several stories to his death. Moments after the fall, two passers-by walked up to where he fell.

Said one, "Did you know this guy?"
Said the other, "I'm not sure of his name, but hs face rings a bell."

Another tragedy: the aforementioned guy had a brother, who felt compelled to carry on the tradition.

But one day, he slipped and fell as well...

The same two passers-by happened up on the tragic scene.

Said one, "Man! Another fall? Who was this guy?"

Said the other, "You can't tell? He's a dead ringer for his brother!"

 

[rbell]

I'd probably go the route that SBC Preacher mentioned. I think it would set a good example and witness...

 

[SaggyWoman]

:laugh::tonofbricks:

I'd go with ringing it first at 8 AM (or 9 AM - whatever the ordinances are for leaf blowers).

 

[SaggyWoman]

rbell, you are dangerous.