Parking in church parking lots?

[TMG51]

I've wondered about this a few times. Churches are everywhere and their parking lots are always empty except for during services. Has anyone tried parking there overnight? I imagine passing police would have no way of knowing whether you belonged there, and no reason to question you. Possibly a person arriving at the church early in the morning could consider a foreign vehicle suspicious.

I've heard mention here of religious bumper stickers being used to keep questions away... maybe a dual purpose if they serve as a pass in church parking lots.

What do you guys think? I'm not religious but neither am I disrespectful of property. Just want to park and move on.

 

[my_vantasy]

I've never tried to overnight, but I did park in a church lot one day to eat my lunch and read a book for awhile. I was approached and told it was private property and I had to leave.

 

[TMG51]

Interesting. I guess that may be more the feeling from churches groups.

 

[AltTransBikes]

Might pass under the radar if one had a 'church van' looking rig, quick overnight, in late and out early.

 

[LeeRevell]

Ask the pastor if you can park overnight.  He likely lives in a house on the grounds or next door.  If he truly lives as he preaches and you look and act decent he should allow it.  Maybe make a small donation?  Help with some chores?

 

[Belinda2]

I think with all the recent church fires most churches are on "high alert". Don't you think?

 

[akrvbob]

For a long time I was active in churches. members are surprisingly familiar with who should be there and who shouldn't and they are also surprisingly protective of "their" church. To be fair the get vandalized and broken into so they do have reason to be protective.

I've always thought it was a bad idea and never did it.

However, many churches now are in strip malls and warehouses, they are a fairly good choice to park close but not too close.
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

I think with all the recent church fires most churches are on "high alert". Don't you think?

Which is why asking is a good policy.  Worst he can do is say "No", and you motor on.

 

[eDJ_]

It just depends on the Church, and congregation's views. 

Some observe the corporal works of mercy such as:

"Shelter the homeless"

There are varying views by others.

Often people come to the Churches and ask if they could find shelter there for the night before
they continue their travels.  Generally those people are granted some temporary quarters in
a garage or building outside the Church.

But I can imagine they wouldn't want this to turn into an ongoing program for transient people.
Still some may consider a program for doing this on a lot near the Church.

I know in my area there is a "Bikers" Church and they are taking in traveling bikers in the warehouse building that their Church is in.  There are certain functions such as the tour to the Vietnam Memorial that they host travelers who are on their way there or back.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I agree, churches are a bad choice.  You never know, perhaps a patrolling cop is a church member, he cruises by the church every night, and tonight he sees a strange van in the parking lot.  Even if you ask the pastor, other church members don't know you asked the pastor.

 

[highdesertranger]

whenever on private property ask first or be prepared for the knock. a lot of times even if the property is posted, if you ask you will be granted permission. this is for all private property not just churches. highdesertranger

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

Brian and I spend about 75% of our annual time in the States parked in church parking lots. Of course, we're working with each church in question, as in we put on a benefit concert and deliver a motivational talk (on two separate nights over a two-week period). While we have no problems from the minister/priest and church members, we do have problems with patrolling cops. Invariably, they'll knock at least once during our stay at each place and ask what we're doing there. It's not problematic clearing the situation up, but it is a PITA.

Shalom,


Jesse.

 

[MK7]

Brian and I spend about 75% of our annual time in the States parked in church parking lots.  Of course, we're working with each church in question, as in we put on a benefit concert and deliver a motivational talk (on two separate nights over a two-week period).  While we have no problems from the minister/priest and church members, we do have problems with patrolling cops.  Invariably, they'll knock at least once during our stay at each place and ask what we're doing there.     It's not problematic clearing the situation up, but it is a PITA.

Shalom,


Jesse.

It should help if you write a note on the Church's letterhead stating that you're allowed to park there as part of your work and include the name & contact number of the Church People that gave you such authorization....and stick it on the windshield and rear windows. Maybe cops won't wake you up at night.

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

It should help if you write a note on the Church's letterhead stating that you're allowed to park there as part of your work and include the name & contact number of the Church People that gave you such authorization....and stick it on the windshield and rear windows. Maybe cops won't wake you up at night.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think we've tried just about everything, including calling the local police station when we arrive. It's impossible to second guess what any patrolling cop will do, but it's worth the inconvenience, and sometimes the police will even 'keep and eye on us' for the duration of our stay, thus minimizing problems from local troublemakers.

There appears to be a flip side to every coin in life, no?

Shalom,


Jesse.

 

[USExplorer]

I've had generally good experiences with churches.

One church of Christ outside Newton Falls Ohio had their A/C compressor recently stolen, but the pastor welcomed me, invited me into an after-funeral meal in the fellowship hall, and let me stay in the parking lot. Half an hour after he left, he came back and expressed concern that I would be harassed by the cops, so he invited me to camp in their driveway. I was invited in for breakfast, and unfortunately ended up making the pastor and his wife late for work.

At a freewill Baptist church in Marion North Carolina, the pastor invited me out to eat after the service, then invited me into his home to spend the rest of the day and the night. A member of the church gave me a hundred dollars out of the blue, mentioning their past experiences traveling broke.

At a missionary church in upstate New York, the pastor, who was chaplain for the local cops, let me camp in the parking lot of the church. The lot overlooked a picturesque waterfall and the small town of Ticonderoga. He offered to give me breakfast, but I slipped off at dawn.

At a tiny Pentecostal church outside Nahunta Georgia, the pastor took me out to dinner, then let me sleep in the church driveway. The church bordered a trailer park.

At a Methodist church outside of Jonesborough Tennessee, I parked on a graveyard road without asking permission and slept in my truck. I exercised light discipline as I was visible from several farmhouses. I left shortly after dawn.

At a fundamentalist Baptist church in Warren Ohio, I announced that I was looking for a place to stay for a little work and got multiple offers at the end of the service.

Based on my anecdotal experience visiting 50+ churches in a dozen states in the past year, I would say that church robberies are a nationwide problem. However, most churches still follow the teachings of Jesus regarding welcoming strangers. Don't brown nose if you are an agnostic, just be respectful. Most church people admire honesty, so make good eye contact and don't skirt questions. If they are overly suspicious, such as asking to see your ID, gently reprove them for not showing hospitality, say goodbye, and move on. Rural churches are the friendliest. Methodists have very strong social gospel beliefs. Churches of Christ (the non denominational ones) are very down to earth and non-judgmental people, in my experience. I haven't had good luck with urban contemporary churches. Baptists occupy the whole spectrum in the South.

 

[highdesertranger]

Explorer I think the key here is you asked first. that will go a long ways no matter the location. highdesertranger

 

[compassrose]

... Based on my anecdotal experience visiting 50+ churches in a dozen states in the past year, I would say that church robberies are a nationwide problem... If they are overly suspicious, such as asking to see your ID, gently reprove them for not showing hospitality, say goodbye, and move on.

Given the thefts that we knew about while living in the Chattanooga area (my husband was selling security systems at the time and had a lot of churches getting them), I don't think you can fault them for being a bit suspicious. One church had their sound system stolen several times (sounded like an "inside job" to me as the system was stolen within a few weeks of being replaced). More to the point, I don't think it's your place to tell them how to run their church or live their life. Unless you are willing to have them tell you how to live your life and to "gently reprove" you for being ____ (fill in the blank with any of the numerous descriptions they could apply to you).


Personally I think if you spend the night in a store parking lot, you should buy a little something as a thank you. Therefor going by that, if you spend the night in a church parking lot, you should attend the church service.

 

[Canine]

Since I am an Anti-theist,it will never come up.

 

[Sameer]

You cannot pull up on private property and expect to spend the night with out asking permission. It doesn't matter what business owns the property. That action is not logical or smart. Find some 24 hour Convenience Store and ask the guy if you can park out of the way of his customers because you are too tired to drive...I have done that before with great success. It is a good thing to plan your parking ahead of time during your travels.

 

[TMG51]

You cannot pull up on private property and expect to spend the night with out asking permission.  It doesn't matter what business owns the property.  That action is not logical or smart.  Find some 24 hour Convenience Store and ask the guy if you can park out of the way of his customers because you are too tired to drive...I have done that before with great success.   It is a good thing to plan your parking ahead of time during your travels.

That's always the best way, of course, but I've occasionally found that method not applicable when turning up in a new town late and there's no one around at any of the businesses to ask permission. I've been thinking about making up a sign to put up on my driver's window when I park at night that says something like, "Hi, I'm traveling and needed somewhere to sleep. If I'm parked somewhere I shouldn't be then knock or call my cell xxx-xxx-xxxx and I'll move. Otherwise, I'll be gone in the morning."