Religion News in Brief

Religion News in Brief

STOW, Ohio — A financially struggling church has run into neighborhood opposition to natural gas drilling on church property.

Stow Community United Church of Christ sits on a four-acre lot in this upscale Akron suburb. It needs the approval of neighbors living within 300 feet to allow drilling. Two of 20 owners have balked at signing because of safety and property-value concerns.

Dan and Denise Tonelli, who live next door to the church on a wooded lot, fear drilling would affect privacy and property values. They have refused to back the drilling, which is increasingly common on school grounds and private property in big producer states like Texas.

“We looked for years for this piece of property and we waited until we could afford it and we built the house we could afford,” Dan Tonelli said.

The well would be about 180 feet from their home but two oil tanks, a brine tank and other equipment would be 130 feet away.

Rich Reinhart, president of the Stow church council, said the congregation has empathy for opponents but believes it is Christian to “help more people by keeping our church open.” The church has about 140 members with an average age of 62, Reinhart said.

Only about half of the members contribute to the church financially and only a few families have young children, he said.

The church and neighbors would share royalties. As the property owner, the church also would receive gas from the well, perhaps saving $12,000 a year. The church is trying sustain an annual budget of $120,000 to $130,000.

www.stowcommchurch.org/