Darryl and I delivered the following notice today to the people calling themselves the “City of Keene”. The notice is to inform the city people that 73 and 75 Leverett St. are ministers’ parsonages and that we will no longer participate in their system of coercive taxes. However, we may elect to give them a voluntary contribution to support the city programs (like road repair) that we support:
Notice From the Ministers of the Shire Free Church: Keene
2013-09-02
To our neighbors calling themselves the “City of Keene”:
Greetings!
You are now on notice that as of June 27th, 2013 the property commonly known as 73 and 75 Leverett Street has become ministers’ parsonages for the Shire Free Church.
One of the central tenets of our interfaith ministry is peace. Historically, people calling themselves “The City” or “The State” have engaged in systematic threatening of peaceful people. You have jargon for this, like “taxes,” “statutes,” and “ordinances.” You are on notice that you have no authority from god to rule your fellow man. Our church’s ministers and members also have not granted you any authority over their lives. As ministers, we have dedicated our lives in service of god and peace. Therefore, we are no longer participating as victims under your coercive scheme.
That said, some Shire Free Church ministers living in the parsonages located at 73 and 75 Leverett do appreciate some of the services rendered by you and your fellow “City of Keene” neighbors. Based on their opinion of your services’ value, these ministers may choose to give a yearly or twice-yearly donation to the “City of Keene,” but will require the church’s money not be used to commit or threaten violence against any peaceful human being.
We look forward to a future where your organization no longer is a threat to peaceful people and hope to see you become motivated to move in a peaceful direction immediately. We look forward to bringing our message of peace to the community at large and bringing more members of our church to the area.
In peace,
Shire Free Church Ministers: Keene_________________ __________________ _________________
Ian Freeman Wendy French Darryl W. Perry
