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Greenville zoning board tries to end prayer dispute

Web posted May 2, 1998

Associated Press

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Greenville County's zoning appeals board has tried to end a dispute over prayer meetings at a pastor's Simpsonville home, saying its earlier ruling was not meant to violate anyone's rights.

The Rev. Orie Wenger and his wife, Beverly, had held prayer meetings three times a week at their home since August.

But in March the board, reacting to neighbors' complaints, said the neighborhood was only zoned for single-family dwellings, not churches.

The couple faced a possible $1,000-a-day fine for violating land-use rulings.

``It wasn't an order to prohibit prayer meetings or gatherings at his home,'' board Chairman Danny Schaaf said at Thursday's 30-minute special session.

The board said it was just trying to stop noise and traffic complaints, not harm the Wengers. It now says the March 11 action was just trying to provide guidelines and a legal interpretation to the couple.

Mr. Wenger, who stopped holding his meetings during his appeal, said he will resume the gatherings at his house.

He and County Administrator Gerald Seals repeatedly had asked the board to clarify its March ruling. Mr. Seals said he was pleased with the clarification, which will now be sent to the Greenville County Council.

David Holmes, the couple's lawyer, said the board's action may help end a lawsuit he filed April 20 charging that the county had violated the Wengers' constitutional rights.