Posted on 06/02/2002 10:01:42 PM PDT by codebreaker
Looks like a freep in the making local manager complaining that Church members are trying to convert customers and does not want a bible opened in the chain.
Robert Lebron, 35, said his group - four on Friday night, sometimes as many as seven - gathers at the International House of Pancakes, 1290 S. Pasadena Ave., St. Petersburg, to read Scripture and talk about what's going on in their lives.
The group calls itself the Light in the Night Church, Lebron said, but it has no church building.
``We meet in public,'' he said.
Customers, though, have been complaining about being bothered by the church members.
Last week, for instance, one of the members struck up small talk with customer Debra Harvey.
``All of a sudden, `Jesus Christ' starts coming into it and there's an awful lot about religion,'' she said.
Like others, she complained to management.
IHOP manager Robbie Hearn took the complaints to corporate headquarters.
So he was ready with an idea when church members appeared Friday night: He suggested the group move its weekly gathering to a Clearwater IHOP that has a designated meeting room.
``Our establishment is a restaurant, not a convention center, not a banquet hall,'' Hearn said.
But the group did not like the idea.
``He said, `I'll give you service, but you cannot open your Bible,' '' Lebron said.
Hearn said that members of the group objected to his suggestion.
When they started to swear at him, he called the sheriff's office to have them escorted from the property.
``They were not kicked out for religious reasons,'' Hearn said, ``they were kicked out for their attitude.''
Lebron denied that the group's members were bothering customers and said they intend to question IHOP headquarters about its policies.
In the meantime, the group moved its meeting to a nearby Pizza Hut.
By STEPHEN THOMPSON and PHILIP MORGAN The Tampa Tribune
Published: Jun 1, 2002
ST. PETERSBURG - Every week for 15 years, the handful of people who make up the Light in the Night Church have clustered in the corner of a restaurant and read from their Bibles. Friday, they were evicted after customers complained about proselytizing in the pancake house. Robert Lebron, 35, said his group - four on Friday night, sometimes as many as seven - gathers at the International House of Pancakes, 1290 S. Pasadena Ave., St. Petersburg, to read Scripture and talk about what's going on in their lives.
The group calls itself the Light in the Night Church, Lebron said, but it has no church building.
``We meet in public,'' he said.
Customers, though, have been complaining about being bothered by the church members.
Last week, for instance, one of the members struck up small talk with customer Debra Harvey.
``All of a sudden, `Jesus Christ' starts coming into it and there's an awful lot about religion,'' she said.
Like others, she complained to management.
IHOP manager Robbie Hearn took the complaints to corporate headquarters.
So he was ready with an idea when church members appeared Friday night: He suggested the group move its weekly gathering to a Clearwater IHOP that has a designated meeting room.
``Our establishment is a restaurant, not a convention center, not a banquet hall,'' Hearn said.
But the group did not like the idea.
``He said, `I'll give you service, but you cannot open your Bible,' '' Lebron said.
Hearn said that members of the group objected to his suggestion.
When they started to swear at him, he called the sheriff's office to have them escorted from the property.
``They were not kicked out for religious reasons,'' Hearn said, ``they were kicked out for their attitude.''
Lebron denied that the group's members were bothering customers and said they intend to question IHOP headquarters about its policies.
In the meantime, the group moved its meeting to a nearby Pizza Hut.
TEXT IS AS FOLLOWS (link will only last another day before being archived:
Religious Group Irked At Being Booted From IHOP
By STEPHEN THOMPSON and PHILIP MORGAN The Tampa Tribune
Published: Jun 1, 2002
ST. PETERSBURG - Every week for 15 years, the handful of people who make up the Light in the Night Church have clustered in the corner of a restaurant and read from their Bibles. Friday, they were evicted after customers complained about proselytizing in the pancake house.
Robert Lebron, 35, said his group - four on Friday night, sometimes as many as seven - gathers at the International House of Pancakes, 1290 S. Pasadena Ave., St. Petersburg, to read Scripture and talk about what's going on in their lives.
The group calls itself the Light in the Night Church, Lebron said, but it has no church building.
``We meet in public,'' he said.
Customers, though, have been complaining about being bothered by the church members.
Last week, for instance, one of the members struck up small talk with customer Debra Harvey.
``All of a sudden, `Jesus Christ' starts coming into it and there's an awful lot about religion,'' she said.
Like others, she complained to management.
IHOP manager Robbie Hearn took the complaints to corporate headquarters.
So he was ready with an idea when church members appeared Friday night: He suggested the group move its weekly gathering to a Clearwater IHOP that has a designated meeting room.
``Our establishment is a restaurant, not a convention center, not a banquet hall,'' Hearn said.
But the group did not like the idea.
``He said, `I'll give you service, but you cannot open your Bible,' '' Lebron said.
Hearn said that members of the group objected to his suggestion.
When they started to swear at him, he called the sheriff's office to have them escorted from the property.
``They were not kicked out for religious reasons,'' Hearn said, ``they were kicked out for their attitude.''
Lebron denied that the group's members were bothering customers and said they intend to question IHOP headquarters about its policies.
In the meantime, the group moved its meeting to a nearby Pizza Hut.
+++++++++++
What I have a hard time believing is the reference to some group members "started to swear at" the IHOP manager. Of course, any more, some people thinkk you're swearing at them if you say "Jesus loves you."
If the small "church" group is, in fact, approaching other customers while they are dining, then, as the manager, Hearn is obligated to act as he did.
``He said, `I'll give you service, but you cannot open your Bible,' '' Lebron said.
That is going too far. They certainly can open their bible and "fellowship", if they are dining (that is, if they are "paying" customers).
I have always felt that faith is a personal thing. Others may disagree. But I have a basic mistrust of people who publically pray, and try to prostletize others in the process.
Sounds to me like it was ok as long as they weren't bothering the other customers. I don't think its a big deal. Certainly not enough to make the paper. Perhaps it was a slow news day;-)
Even the very religious can be banned from establishments for swearing.
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