Columbia church calls rejection of cross display discrimination

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- City officials here have rejected a church's proposal for a towering display of crosses, claiming it is a tall advertisement for its denomination.

Community United Methodist Church had plans to erect three crosses on its property. The largest is 30 feet tall, with a 13-foot flame at the top. Columbia authorities rejected the plan, saying signs in the area can be only 12 feet high.

Chief building inspector Rich Sternadori said the proposed cross with a large flame is not a universal Christian symbol, but denotes a specific Methodist denomination.

Remove the flame, and the city will approve the permit for the cross display, he said.

"If you put a large, 30-foot inflatable tire outside your store, that is a sign. It doesn't have to say 'tires for sale.'" Sternadori said. "We felt that this clearly indicated a denominational group."

The church argues the 'flame of Pentecost' is a universal Christian symbol. The other two crosses don't have flames and are 26 and 22 feet tall. The church also claims the crosses are a memorial to deceased church members.

The church's representative, attorney Robert Fleming, wrote in an appeal application filed with the city that the interpretation unfairly discriminates against the church's freedom of expression. The appeal also says the church is exempt because it is a religious entity under city ordinances and not advertising for a commercial business.

The city's Board of Adjustment will hear the case on May 10. If the appeal is denied, the church could take the matter to court.