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To: Calvinist_Dark_Lord

Nonsense. If you invite someone into your home, that makes it difficult to assert a case that they are trespassing, and that holds true even moreso for a church that issues an open invitation to EVERYONE to attend.


17 posted on 08/25/2016 11:20:17 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman; Gamecock
Nonsense. If you invite someone into your home, that makes it difficult to assert a case that they are trespassing, and that holds true even moreso for a church that issues an open invitation to EVERYONE to attend.

The only thing that is nonsense is the above statement. A person can be 'uninvited' at any time, and such matters are rather common. No peace officer would blink at or acknowledge a protest that the offender was initially invited.

Many churches, including my former denomination have provisions in their By-laws, or Book of Order (i'm a Presbyterian, we have a book of order in the denomination, the congregation has corporate by-laws. Polity depends on the tradition and will vary for different denominations.) to the effect that they can reject anyone at any time for any reason.

In the case of my former denomination, the provision was drafted by a ruling elder who works as a constitutional lawyer.

NOBODY has been crazy enough to challenge it even though there have been some rather crazy, disruptive people involved with that particular denomination.

Still, such provisions are not required to be explicitly stated. Were this the case, those who are excommunicated from a church body would have a case for legal action --this is an analog of somebody you have invited into your home who is no longer welcome there-- As far as i can see, Osteen and the congregation should have filed a Federal lawsuit, they would have won and rightfully so. Besides, i'd bet that the by-laws of Osteen's congregation DO provide a disclaimer. Osteen's father, Rev. John Osteen was not a stupid man, even if his theology was a bit aberrant.

18 posted on 08/25/2016 7:47:27 PM PDT by Calvinist_Dark_Lord ((I have come here to kick @$$ and chew bubblegum...and I'm all outta bubblegum! ~Roddy Piper))
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