OKC Community Church

[Urbanized]

Man, I have seen few if any people in this thread attacking the church, yet people keep talking about it like the pitchforks and torches have been out in full force. What am I missing?

[Pete]

Man, I have seen few if any people in this thread attacking the church, yet people keep talking about it like the pitchforks and torches have been out in full force. What am I missing?

You posted just about the same thing further up-thread, where it was answered.

Also, we're not just talking about this thread. The church and pastor got tons of heat and hateful emails and ended up taking down their Facebook page.

[Urbanized]

Really? Which posts, in particular? I've seen lots more "bashing of the bashers" than actual bashing, if that makes any sense.

Also mentions of "mis-information and accusations" (where, exactly?) and you saying "this is why I've been telling people not to worry and to stop bashing the church", which I would assume to mean only on this board as this statement probably wouldn't apply to Facebook, the Lost Ogle, et al...

Again, just haven't seen too much animosity on here directed at the church itself. Just at the law, and at the situation.

[pickles]

More than one poster in this thread insinuated the church was seeking this location with the express purpose of hindering super duper awesome Alamo draft houseish entertainment consumption options for 20 somethings, which seems a lot like trashing this church, and that was a theme of the social media vitriol thrown their way but whatevs.

[soonerguru]

I know (or hope at least) that Pete was not speaking to me. When he explained that there was a work around to the law, and was specific, that's all i needed to know. Still, this is not the best use of urban retail frontage, in my opinion, whether or not the ABC-3 license is granted. Kudos to the church for working with the Tower to delay their opening.

What made me concerned were the comments in Steve's chat, which indicated the Tower people were caught off guard by this, and that the church people had not responded to requests for comment.

I can only speak for myself, but I do try to read things closely and not overreact to information. I'm sorry if I missed the specific comments made that this was all going to be AOK. That being said, residents of OKC, and I am one, have PTSD from all the "it's too late to do anything now" deals we are confronted with. The bus station is the latest example, especially when we are told by Steve and other insiders repeatedly for years that the bus station will be spared...until the deal is announced, and then it's, "Surprise! If you like the bus station you have one week to mount opposition and get this reversed."

So forgive some of us for reading information from reputable news sources and voicing our discontent. And to be fair, there have been no anti-Christian posts here. There has not been inflammatory rhetoric. Not at all.

[bluedogok]

The law remains outdated, unfair and bad for business.

I think that is one thing that almost all on here agree with.

[Urbanized]

More than one poster in this thread insinuated the church was seeking this location with the express purpose of hindering super duper awesome Alamo draft houseish entertainment consumption options for 20 somethings, which seems a lot like trashing this church, and that was a theme of the social media vitriol thrown their way but whatevs.

Really? Show me one single post (direct quote please) from ANY of the previous 105 posts in this thread that says ANYTHING WHATSOEVER about someone thinking this church was intentionally trying to kill development of the tower. One single post. Please.

When people gripe about hyperbole in this thread, it's posts like THIS ONE that should be called out. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUCH ATTACKS ON THE CHURCH IN THIS THREAD, and few (if any) on this board.

[soonerguru]

More than one poster in this thread insinuated the church was seeking this location with the express purpose of hindering super duper awesome Alamo draft houseish entertainment consumption options for 20 somethings, which seems a lot like trashing this church, and that was a theme of the social media vitriol thrown their way but whatevs.

Oh yeah? Who?

[pickles]

Really? Show me one single post (direct quote please) from ANY of the previous 105 posts in this thread that says ANYTHING WHATSOEVER about someone thinking this church was intentionally trying to kill development of the tower. One single post. Please.

When people gripe about hyperbole in this thread, it's posts like THIS ONE that should be called out. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUCH ATTACKS ON THE CHURCH IN THIS THREAD, and few (if any) on this board.

My opinion is not novel, and others have noted the same. Read more carefully.

[pickles]

.with the exception of people (like me) who want to see the Tower fully licensed before the church puts the neighborhood on booze lockdown.

Ok

[pickles]

Man, I have seen few if any people in this thread attacking the church, yet people keep talking about it like the pitchforks and torches have been out in full force. What am I missing?

The other thread.

[Urbanized]

My opinion is not novel, and others have noted the same. Read more carefully.

Perhaps YOU should read more carefully. Other than 2-3 total posters expressing disdain for religion in general (which of course they have every right to do though I think it is unfortunate for the purposes of this discussion) nobody has suggested THIS church was trying to derail development in THIS neighborhood, and certainly not in THIS thread, which is what I challenged you on.

While you dig around on other threads over the history of this board to try to find posts to support your position, be sure to dig up the ones that I made all along the way that disagreed with blaming the church or making anti-religion comments. Or, don't, because of course that won't help your argument.

[Urbanized]

And I STILL stand by my statement you quoted above; saying I want to see the Tower licensed before the opening of the church puts the neighborhood on booze lockdown. There is NOTHING negative said there against the church. NOTHING. It's simply a condition dictated by the law. You simply WANT that to be something that it is not.

[Pete]

Sorry if my last post in this thread was a bit terse.

I've said from the very beginning both parties were working together and there wasn't a big cause for concern. Since i was the one that broke this story and seem to be the only one who has spoken to both sides on this, and since everything seems to be working out, I'm just frustrated over the ridiculous backlash against the church.

And yes, I was talking about other places other than this site. I doubt very seriously people from OKCTalk were sending nasty messages to the pastor or posting silly things on their Facebook site, causing them to take it down.


Let's all just be happy this seems to be headed for a happy conclusion and move on.

[Urbanized]

You might want to talk with Pickles about that.

[Pete]

My fault for inciting this latest round of finger pointing.

[HOT ROD]

Honestly, I stand by what I've said on this thread and I honestly think the feedback from this forum could have added to the church's decision to work with the Tower and possibly other owners. While I don't know for sure, surely folks do indeed peruse this site and one thing's for sure - you can and will get candid reaction to development or announcements here.

I personally, never attacked the church but only questioned their motive for wanting to open up in an emerging bar/nightclub district. I also know how churches try to force their conservative views on others in the past rather than working to be proactive and add to a district. There are, however, positive examples and I was always hopeful that this church would be an asset - and turns out they are.

But again, i say to those who want to censer (?sp) this website, I totally disagree. It is arguably the best, most informed voice of Oklahoma City and those of us who are expats but care and love our hometown and the renaissance taking place. I am totally excited about not only this development and the district; but honestly by how much OKC has grown up as a city and embraced its people and is embracing urbanity (this a great example) rather than someone behind closed doors or in a pulpit calling all of the shots contrary to what most likely would desire.

Good times, and congrats to the church and to Uptown - looks like OKC's next great urban neighborhood is developing. ...

[Pete]

Just to be clear, I don't think any of the hateful energy aimed at the church and it's pastor came from the people on OKCTalk who have posted on this subject.

However, I am very sure that some who did contact them read this site.


Remember that well over 90% of our views come from people who never even register; and of those registered, only a tiny portion post on any one thread.

So, what is written and discussed on a thread is read by many, many more people than post on it.

[bchris02]

Really? Show me one single post (direct quote please) from ANY of the previous 105 posts in this thread that says ANYTHING WHATSOEVER about someone thinking this church was intentionally trying to kill development of the tower. One single post. Please.

Myself and a few others asked that question back on the day this church was announced, but those fears were put to rest very early on.

[jerrywall]

So the gazette link seems to be broken now... can anyone find a functioning one?

[Pete]

This is what I was alluding to when I mentioned this church / 300 foot law isn't necessarily cast in stone.

The Lyric is confident it can obtain an ABC-3 permit even though The Parish is within that distance:

OKCTalk - Lyric Theater seeking to add liquor sales

[Urbanized]

Let's hope. There is no question The Parish would grant a waiver if the law allowed. Like I've said for years, at the least churches should be given the same waiver option extended to schools. Better yet, the whole law should be scrapped.

[bluedogok]

I saw some things that made me shake my head in the other thread on here but it was nothing compared to some of the crap that showed up on my Facebook feed from people that I have known for 30-40+ years. Many kept comparing 23rd Street to South Congress in Austin forgetting that there are multiple churches on South Congress. Granted Texas/Austin laws are different regarding the separation issue but they acted incredulous that anyone would put a church in the area in either city and the only reason why anyone would do that is for nefarious reasons because all Christians are Bible thumping abolitionists.

[Pete]

Hahaha...

[bchris02]

I saw some things that made me shake my head in the other thread on here but it was nothing compared to some of the crap that showed up on my Facebook feed from people that I have known for 30-40+ years. Many kept comparing 23rd Street to South Congress in Austin forgetting that there are multiple churches on South Congress. Granted Texas/Austin laws are different regarding the separation issue but they acted incredulous that anyone would put a church in the area in either city and the only reason why anyone would do that is for nefarious reasons because all Christians are Bible thumping abolitionists.

23rd St in OKC and Congress in Austin is apples and oranges because of the separation issue, but I understand where you are coming from. I don't understand what the fear would be in Austin, regardless of the church's intentions. The most fundamentalist, abolitionist church could open up there but other than possible politically incorrect signage, there is nothing they could do to harm the neighborhood or its businesses. In Oklahoma that isn't the case and personally I am quite surprised there hasn't been an attempt by an activist congregation to exploit that law with malicious intentions at some point in the past 20 years. I am very thankful OKC Community Church is wanting to be an attribute to the neighborhood.