To: Lawrence J. Morrissey, Mayor of Rockville
Tell Illinois mayor: Let church reopen its doors to the homeless
Forcing the Apostolic Pentecostal Church to close its doors to the homeless puts lives at risk. Please direct city officials to work with the church to find a way to reopen at night instead of threatening legal action.
Why is this important?
All winter, the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Rockford has opened its doors to the homeless whenever overnight temperatures fell below freezing. On most nights, nearly 50 people would seek life-saving refuge from the bitter cold.
The church is acting on their beliefs -- namely, that Christians have an obligation to care for those who are cold, hungry, outcast, and excluded.
But last Wednesday, the city of Rockford cited the church for code and zoning violations and demanded that they cease sheltering people at night. According to the church's pastor, the city warned them that it would be illegal for the church to continue opening their doors to the homeless.
City officials have a rightful responsibility to protect the public from harm, but in this case, they're doing more harm than good. Most seeking shelter in the church have no other options during dangerously cold nights. Barring the church from welcoming these people could cost lives.
Let's show the mayor that thousands of people from all over the country are standing with this church!
The church is acting on their beliefs -- namely, that Christians have an obligation to care for those who are cold, hungry, outcast, and excluded.
But last Wednesday, the city of Rockford cited the church for code and zoning violations and demanded that they cease sheltering people at night. According to the church's pastor, the city warned them that it would be illegal for the church to continue opening their doors to the homeless.
City officials have a rightful responsibility to protect the public from harm, but in this case, they're doing more harm than good. Most seeking shelter in the church have no other options during dangerously cold nights. Barring the church from welcoming these people could cost lives.
Let's show the mayor that thousands of people from all over the country are standing with this church!