Control of a Penn Township church was temporarily restored to members from two warring factions of elders who claim they are in charge of the Christian Fellowship Center of Greensburg.
Westmoreland County Judge Anthony Marsili on Monday issued an injunction against either of the newly constituted boards from taking over and instead ruled that the elders in place in October should run the church until a final court ruling to determine the legal makeup of church officials is issued June 1.
The question of church leadership became a court issue in January after the Rev. Roy Aiken, pastor at the fellowship, filed a lawsuit against two elders he claimed were thrown off the board in November.
Aiken claimed elders Frank Ring and William Grassel violated church bylaws for being quarrelsome and failing to speak in tongues. The special religious language is a requirement to serve on the board, under church bylaws, according to the suit.
Aiken and his supporters maintain the conflict goes beyond personality and religious issues and involves church finances.
Ring and Grassel refused to relinquish their roles on the board and contended they were never formally thrown off the board. In January, they voted to expel two other board members to take control of the church leadership.
Earlier this month, the Aiken and Ring-Grassel factions formed two separate boards to run the church.
Marsili pleaded with members from the factions to settle the dispute outside of court.
"This a church group that up until November flourished. Why any church group would want a third party to make a decision about who is on the board amazes me. Whether this six-person board likes it or not, they are stuck with each other until the next hearing. I hope each side agrees to disagree and moves on," Marsili ruled.
The court-mandated peace may be short-lived.
Mike DeMatt, an attorney representing Ring and Grassel, said he's not sure whether the ongoing rift is repairable.
"It's hard to say. It may not be," DeMatt said.
Aiken's lawyer, Keenan Holmes, said his client was satisfied with the judge's ruling.
"They want what's in the best interest of the church. This was the best result today for the church," Holmes said.
Marsili said that if there is no out-of-court settlement, he will hear arguments and evidence and make a permanent ruling on June 1 as to which group is in charge.
Ah religion. It's like watching a talent show at the Special Olympics.
"The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of God, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan. Many people don't like that statement but few can argue with it."
Aiken claimed elders Frank Ring and William Grassel violated church bylaws for being quarrelsome and failing to speak in tongues. The special religious language is a requirement to serve on the board, under church bylaws, according to the suit.
That bit is pure gold!
Although it may look like a forum, this site is actually a crowd-sourced science project modelling the slow but inexorable heat death of the universe.
Aiken claimed elders Frank Ring and William Grassel violated church bylaws for being quarrelsome and failing to speak in tongues. The special religious language is a requirement to serve on the board, under church bylaws, according to the suit.
That bit is pure gold!
That is awesome.
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When the aliens do come, everything we once thought was cool will then make us ashamed.
Outside the ordered universe is that amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity—the boundless daemon sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.
I wonder what's actually happening to them when they're flailing around like that. Are they making it up? Are they having a siezure? Perhaps an orgasm?
Outside the ordered universe is that amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity—the boundless daemon sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.
About me: I have prehensile eyebrows. I speak 9 languages fluently, one of which other people can also speak. When backed into a corner, I fit perfectly - having a right-angled arse.
It would be funnier if they barked like a dog. Paul McKenna can make people bark like a dog. Paul McKenna is better than god.
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return. Salman Rushdie You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. House MD Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view. Sandy Denny This is the wrong forum for bluffing Paco Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish! Calilasseia I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants. Twoflower Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse Millefleur
Definitely mostly this. I grew up doing it so it's a little different (not sure how grown adults are brought into it), but basically you are encouraged when you are young to "just start making noises even if it seems strange and God will start to speak through you". So I did, cause I was a kid and then eventually it becomes a sort of trance-like state and you become conditioned to respond that way to certain cues. It's pretty fucked, really
lordpasternack wrote:Yeah - I fuckin' love oppressin' ma wimmin, like I love chowin' on ma bacon and tuggin' on ma ol' cock…
Pappa wrote:God is a cunt! I wank over pictures of Jesus! I love Darwin so much I'd have sex with his bones!!!!
You couldn't make it up.
