Greedy pastor cuts down 200-year-old tree
September 29th, 2005The pastor of a church in Centralia, Ill., has angered local residents for cutting down a 200-year-old tree, despite their protests.
Rev. Johnnie Wilson wanted $75,000 from the city to spare the oak tree, which was located on his church’s property. He claims the tree was damaging his church and taking up parking spaces.
“I would pray that people would just move on,” he said Thursday, again stressing he had every right to do what he did with the tree on his property. “I pray that people would repent, to be quite honest, repent for the hatefulness, the narrow-mindedness. I’m not so much looking for an apology. I’m just looking for them to get their souls right.”
Gee, I don’t imagine parking’s going to be a problem now, as nobody in their right mind would go to a church where this lunatic is the pastor. And what, pray tell, does the Bible have to say about greed, Rev. Wilson?
What a colossal blunder, and a classless way to go shooting off his mouth. And certainly a nice public relations campaign Wilson has launched in the town, no?
Thanks to Scott Lamb for the story.
Before any comments should be made, this article needs to be read. Here’s the point that angered me:
“Kleinhenz said the city offered to vacuum up the leaves and limbs for free — the city usually charges for that service — if Wilson’s faithful could get them to the curb. No deal. Wilson said that would do nothing about the real problem of leaves piling up on the roof.”
The city seems to have made several offers/concessions to this pastor and he refused every one. This pastor should apologize now to the community for his selfishness and pride.
Just how many parking places does a tree take up anyway?
Comment deleted. Keep it clean if you want to participate.
Wow Russ, um, you must be new around here… glad you’ve joined the conversation.