Ordinance amendment to define a church fails to get a motion

After much debate, the Bolivar City Council failed to pass an amendment to the city’s liquor ordinance, without a motion, during the November city council meeting on Tuesday, November 10, at Bolivar City Hall, to define what a church is for the purpose of putting in a liquor store.
The amendment, as written by Bolivar City Attorney Steve Hornsby, would have used five criteria to define a church. The criteria were that a church shall be: a building dedicated to public worship, where people gather regularly, and at least weekly for the purpose of worship and the exercise of religious practices; where the assembly is part of a religious group that has governance rules and discipline, and is a legal entity authorized to hold real property; has at least a one-half ownership interest in the building where worship services are held, or has a leasehold ownership interest of at least five years; has obtained tax exempt status, as recognized by the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the United States Internal Revenue Service; and has off-street parking for not less than 10 vehicles on its property or property that it controls.
The failure to vote on the amendment came after five council members, Randy Hill, Tracy Byrum, Julian McTizic, Larry McKinnie, and Willie McKinnie voiced opposition, with shouts of “amen” from the crowd that came to show their opposition to the amendment, after each council member denounced the amendment.
“I don’t think city government should have anything to do with what defines a church,” Hill said.  McTizic agreed, noting that the definition of a church should be left up to the dictionary and the bible.
Other council members, such as Willie McKinnie took issue with certain provisions. He disagreed with the five year provision, as well as the parking spot rule.
Three other council members, Quantissia Hamer, Suzanne Rhea and Todd Lowe did not comment on the amendment.

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