re: Alabama Dabbing Into Theocracy: Mega Church Creates It's Own Police Force

I attended this church several years ago when I lived in the Birmingham area. The portrayal of this church as predominantly white is true but unsurprisingly little else about the article is remotely accurate.

The church is huge (and beautiful btw) and sits on a ridge overlooking I-459 in Vestavia Hills, not adjacent to downtown Birmingham and the 2/3rds AA population as the article suggests. Vestavia Hills AA population is 5% or less. It may have had a "racist history" at some point in the past but there were and probably still are some AA members and other non-white members who actively attended then and probably still now as well. It wasn't (at least when I attended several years ago) one of those creepy, touchy feely, wave your hands in the air atmospheres that many associate with mega churches either which is why I felt comfortable there. Mostly middle to upper middle income members with very sound Biblical teaching and a solid pastor at the time (Harry Reeder).

As for the private police force, I don't understand what the big deal is. The place is huge and looking back was and probably still is an easy target for any crazed nutcase out there. It isn't as if they are going to be policing off the church campus so I don't see what the big deal is. The congregation being quite wealthy not to mention large could easily afford such a police force.

I honestly don't understand the angst from leftists and the absurd claims of this being an example of a crazy theocracy. Heaven forbid a large congregation is proactive about protecting its members.

First, DO revisit basic grammar and the difference between 'it's' and 'its.' Then go back and edit.

Second, check out this article about the Johns Hopkins Univ. in Baltimore creating its own police force to help keep its campus safe for students and faculty in the middle of the _hithole known as Baltimore where city police are helpless and ineffective scarecrows.

LINK

These developments are nothing but indicators that police are losing the battle of public safety and people/businesses/churches/universities are taking matters in their own hands.