Dallas International Street Church protesting fire department citations

by Pat Spradley of Street Zine

On January 30th, 2009 Frank Johnson from the Dallas Fire Department inspected the Dallas International Street Church and signed a certificate that all code violations had been corrected and that all that was required was a new Certificate of Occupancy which has been requested from the City of Dallas.

However, on February 4, the Dallas Fire Department appeared once again during the Worship Service with a surprise. The new inspectors were totally unaware that Frank Johnson had already inspected the premises on January 30 leaving a letter of compliance and that the newly installed fire alarm system had been green tagged. (Copies of the green tag for the fire alarm and proof of inspection by Frank Johnson can be viewed at the DISC website kdministries.org) The inspectors informed Pastor Dudley they were there to bus the people in the Church to another location but soon found that no one would take them – so they gave them a reprieve and said they could stay that night but the next night absolutely no one could sleep in the facility.

They did permit an all night Worship Service the following night to take place allowing sanctuary, but no one could sleep during that service or the Church would be fined. The new inspectors also began changing the rules finding new violations that had not been presented before. This time making issues of no sprinkler system, inadequate parking spots even though the congregation is primarily homeless individuals with no vehicles and the lack of a new certificate of occupancy.

The Dallas International Street Church is open 24/7 on a daily basis, serving the overflow from the Bridge and other Dallas shelters – from 50 to 100 people – most who would not have a place to be. DISC has done the exact same thing for 12 years, feed, clothe, preach the gospel, take in the stranger offering refuge, not as shelter but as a sanctuary from the elements, crime, police harassment, etc.

Pastor Dudley emphasizes that the Dallas International Street Church is not a homeless shelter. It is a Church of the Lord. “Our first word will be Love and respect for our City and its peoples. But our next word will be Law and the Church will launch another crusade: a crusade to protect its citizens.” She says the Bible clearly states that we are to obey the laws of the land and those in authority. However, it also says to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take in the stranger, etc. and that is what she intends to continue doing. “Our religious freedom is slipping away when a government can dictate to a Church that they cannot help those who are hurting, broken and downtrodden,” says Pastor Dudley.

Dudley asks this question of the citizens of Dallas, would you, mom, dad, or loving friend, prefer to have your loved ones sleeping on the streets, under the bridges, or on a loading dock? Or would you prefer to have them housed in a safe haven, such as a church sanctuary, that may or may not have unfinished, but in progress, business of bringing their building up to City codes?

Contact Pastor Karen Dudley, Dallas International Street Church, 2706 2nd Ave., Dallas, Texas 75210 Phone: 214-928-9595 www.kdministries.org