Scott Lively, the pastor of Redemption Gate Mission Society who owns the Holy Grounds Coffee House in Springfield, meets with a reporter from The Republican on Monday.SPRINGFIELD - Controversial pastor Scott Lively, following complaints from local officials that his free coffee house on State Street was a magnet for truant students, said Monday that students are no longer permitted to visit during school hours.
Lively, pastor of Redemption Gate Mission Society, continued to defend the Holy Grounds Coffee House as providing a positive environment for all comers, adults and students, but said the youth visitors can stay only during the after-school hours.
"We want to be a friend of the school and a friend of the students and cooperate together to make the community a better place," Lively said.
Meanwhile, Lively criticized national news reports, saying some have falsely depicted him as being a gay-bashing, hate-mongering activist. Lively said he loves homosexuals but objects to their behavior.
Lively said that partly in response to recent publicity, he has decided to turn over operations of the coffee house to Pastor C.S. Cooley of United Temple Church of God in Christ, while the property is still owned by his ministry.
On Friday, local officials including Superintendent of Schools Alan J. Ingram, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and City Councilor Timothy J. Rooke raised questions and concerns about the coffee shop, including its close proximity to the High School of Commerce and incidents of truancy.
The Holy Grounds Coffee Shop, run by controversial pastor Scott Lively, caused Springfield officials to be concerned that high school truancy is being encouraged by its operation on State Street.Rooke also raised concerns about Lively's background. He referenced Lively's book "The Pink Swastika: Homosexuality in the Nazi Party." A website for the book states in part that the Nazi Party "was conceived, organized and controlled ... by masculine-oriented male homosexuals."
Lively said he met with a vice principal on Monday to discuss truancy concerns, and agreed that students will not be permitted to stay during school hours, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a sign will be posted to alert students.
Lively is also seeking meetings with Ingram, Sarno and Rooke.
Lively said he continues to serve as a conference speaker around the world on the topic of homosexuality, but "it has nothing to do with the ministry in Springfield."
Lively said he and his wife moved to Springfield about three years ago, started a ministry here and opened the coffee house in October. He said he has never raised the issue of homosexuality at the coffee house, which also serves as a place for worship services for three churches and for bible study.