A Pennsylvania judge temporarily blocked a multisite megachurch from hosting outdoor tent services on their property due to noise complaints from neighbors. The injection from Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Chelsea Wagner against Revival Today Church of Moon Township goes into effect on Dec. 26. The township said the church never applied for or obtained a permit to use the tent as a “place of worship,” nor did it get approval to develop the land.
J.J. Richardson, a lawyer who represented 13 families who live near Revival Today who filed a complaint against the church over noise issues, was happy with the ruling. They’re very pleased and very gratified…they feel that (Judge Wagner) followed the law and that she made the right decision,” Mr. Richardson said. “All my clients have ever wanted was for Revival Today to follow the rules and to follow the same rules that every other individual and business in Moon Township is required to follow,” he said to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Starting in May of this year, Revival Today began holding large outdoor tent services and festivals at a property off of Coraopolis Heights Road. Many locals complained that the noise and traffic from such events have been disruptive. The Church has declined to comment on the issue. The services at Moon Revival are held inside the 18,860-square-foot tent structure and can draw hundreds of people and traffic that can back up for miles.
Donald Graham, the township solicitor, testified that he believed an injunction was the only way to get the church to comply with local ordinances. “It’s a case where the cart is before the horse,” Mr. Graham said. “At this point, they need to come into compliance. … It’s not that hard, but I guess we’re going to continue to fight because nobody seems to want to do what they have to do.”
The Christian Post reached out to Revival Today Church for this story. A spokesperson responded that the church would not comment on the matter. Municipal officials say the church has violated multiple ordinance and zoning rules and must be brought into compliance. The legal battle has been raging for months as locals are annoyed with the traffic and loud music.
David Strassburger, an attorney representing the church, argued in court earlier this month that Moon Township is trying to unjustly penalize the church to appeal to locals who opposed it. “This was essentially the easiest path for the township to try to shut us down because what they’re concerned about is noise, traffic, and parking, and that’s for another day,” said Strassburger to the Post-Gazette.
The ministry at the heart of the controversy was founded in 2007 by evangelists Jonathan Shuttlesworth and Adalis Shuttlesworth. According to their website, Revival Today is dedicated to evangelistic ministry” and “reaching those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Revival Today also has two locations in Texas and in-person events across that nation.
In a statement, the Church explained: “Since 2015, Jonathan has conducted many open-air crusades and outreaches in America’s inner cities dedicated to winning the lost,” states the church. “Revival Today’s heartbeat is for the lost. The nations of the world are overripe for Revival — AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO BE A GREAT PART OF IT!”