Should I complain to the church?

[kentishgirl]

Hi

New church opened up around a year ago just up the road from where I live. It's a busy pentacostal type one, African led and congregation. Which is fine.

But about once a month they all come out handing out leaflets, and inviting you to church events, and trying to talk to you about God. Large numbers of them. Which as I live very nearby means I can't walk up the street in peace on those days. Irritating, but they are polite, I am polite, just getting rather bored with being a constant target due to geography.

However last time two ladies were very intrusive and I'm thinking about complaining. I live in flat with a window that opens very wide just above street level, with a balcony railing but no actual balcony, if you know what I mean. OH and I were having a Sunday morning cigarette standing there, chatting, and he was listening to the cricket on TV. The two ladies stopped below us and kept talking to us about a church event. We politely said 'not interested, thank you' a couple of times but they continued. OH even said 'look, I'm trying to listen to the cricket here' and they turned to me and said 'how about you then?'. I said I was also listening and we sort of glared at them and they finally went away. I find it so rude they would interrupt and talk to people who are in their own home and the only way to get away from it would have been to shut the window and go in, but why should we have to?

Would you complain? this goes beyond door-knocking and handing out stuff on the street.

you could complain, but a well-aimed bucket of water next time would probably be more effective.

(evil grin)

Sounds like my bonkers MIL s church. She drives me mad and I'm a Christian! Interestingly she lives in Kent and is south African!!

Free country isn't it.

If you live in a big city or even just a town or village you have to get used to all sorts of events ect going on on your door step.

When you are in a public place you are free to ignor and move away from advances.
As for being engaged while you are at the window/balcony it could be perceived that you are interested and game to be engaged. Obviously if you ignore and questions or advances (you didn't) I'm sure the person would have walked away.

You obviously feel that you shouldn't have to alter your behaviour around these (probably well meaning) people. They probably feel that they are entitled to free speech and to try and engage with anyone.

Sometimes you have to be blatantly obvious you don't want to know.

It's a free country but you don't get to insist on talking to people who are standing inside their own home. You wouldnt like it if someone came and leaned in your window and started talking to you. Why on earth would being in my window mean I have the slightest interest in engaging with anyone outside? Telling someone 'no' repeatedly is blatantly obvious, to me.

Sounds like it is mostly cultural differences rather than to do with faith. In many cultures if you can be seen you are in public space. Walking over and looking (which in the UK would be considered staring) or conversing with someone you can see working or just hanging out near their windows is considered normal behaviour. You could go and explain to the leaders of the church that you don't like it and why and ask them to stop. But no need to get aggressive or unpleasant about it as that would seem counterproductive for neighborly relations. I think it's at least nice that there care about you enough to come and greet you and talk with you. In the UK it is usually the opposite - people ignore each other.