WHEN IS A CHURCH REALLY A ‘CHURCH’? CITY MUST DECIDE IN BEER PERMIT CONTROVERSY

A pastor of a local church appeared before the Crossville Council last night saying his church was indeed, a church.  There was some question that beer permits had been issued to a market and a bar located too close to a church.  The City ordinance states any establishment that sells beer must be no closer than 500 feet to a church.   Seems that beer permits were issued last year to Honey’s Market and Bottoms Up bar when the former City Attorney Chadwell deemed that Place of Refuge Church did not have a certificate of occupancy and should not be recognized as an official ‘church’.  The church pastor, Shane Williams, came before the Council last night to say his church is indeed, a church, maintaining that  a church in Tennessee is defined as a building that holds regular worship services for the general public. Mayor James Mayberry said the new City Attorney will look into the matter and the Council will follow all codes and ordinances in making a final decision at a later date.