The historic Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia has been the focus of recent protests by Philly Bike Action, a group advocating for protected bike lanes throughout Philadelphia. 

The community activists want the church to stop parking cars in bike lanes on Sundays, a practice allowed under the church’s parking permit. Protesters have been present, vocal, and disruptive on Sunday mornings, intimidating church members trying to park and enter the church. There have also been at least 12 incidents of vandalism to vehicles. 

This week, the elders of the church announced their decision to apply for a new permit from the city which will exclude bike lanes. 

“We’ve had parking privileges on the streets for long before there were bike lanes, going back I don’t even know how long — at least 40 years, maybe longer,” Tim Geiger said in a recent interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Geiger serves as the church’s executive minister and has been in communication for months with PBA to find a mutually beneficial resolution. 

The protests have taken place for 18 straight weeks. Using social media, PBA has encouraged people to show up outside the church on Sundays and “tell Tenth Presbyterian safety matters more than convenient parking and that they should withdraw the permits that preclude the implementation of concrete protection.” 

The church is located in the heart of Philadelphia at the corner of Spruce and 17th streets. Spruce Street serves as part of a popular route for weekend cyclists, but many feel unsafe riding through this part of the city since cars can use the lanes designated for bicycles. Tenth Pres isn’t the only house of worship that has been the focus of PBA protests. 

In response to the protests, the church has increased the presence of security and volunteers outside the church to help members find alternative parking and assist them into the church building. The church has also provided coffee and snacks to protestors. According to Geiger, the protests have made it difficult to find suitable parking for members with diminished mobility as well as families with young children. 

In an announcement to the church, Geiger explained that conversations with nearby neighbors factored into the session’s decision to seek a different permit. 

“The reputation of the church among its neighbors has been damaged as those nearby view the church as failing to do what is in the best interest of the city,” he said. “We don’t want anything, even a misconception, to be a hindrance to them knowing the Lord.” 

Referencing 1 Corinthians 10:32-33, Geiger reminded church members, “Christians should do whatever is reasonable, even if it means surrendering our own advantage, in order for others to have an unhindered path to come to the Lord.”

As a result, the elders of Tenth decided on Tuesday to request a new parking permit from the city, one that does not include permission to park in the bike lanes. As an accommodation, the church is requesting that the city expand the number of blocks where parking is permitted. 

In a statement provided to byFaith, Geiger provides perspective on the church’s decision:

Tenth has been part of Philadelphia for 195 years. Obviously, the culture around the church has changed dramatically over the last two centuries. The way for the church to do evangelism and apologetics most effectively is for the church to find a way to enter into the surrounding culture, understand it, and respond redemptively. The primary way the Lord brings people into relationship with him involves bringing them into relationship with his people. While we can’t submit wholesale to the culture, we also can’t allow our preferences on non-essentials of the Gospel to be stumbling blocks to the unbelieving world. Just as our Lord did through his incarnation, we must be willing to enter into the world and engage with it in order for Gospel fruit to result.

The permit application is going through an expedited process and could take effect as early as August 18. Until then, the church is asking worshippers to voluntarily avoid parking in bike lanes, whether or not protestors are present. PBA has informed the church that, in light of the new permit application, there are no plans to continue the protests.