DEAR MISS MANNERS: Would it be wrong for a church member to ask people to leave the church because of disruptive and inappropriate behavior?
My husband and I enjoy the Christmas Eve services at our church very much and many guests attend. This year there was one group of guests sitting in front of us and I saw the kindergartners who were better behaved. The two women in particular were disruptive and apparently didn’t know the sound was spreading. They started pointing at the shepherd and giggling and whispering back and forth, obviously making fun of her.
As the choir sang, the older of the two women began to sing loudly while everyone else in the congregation listened quietly. This continued throughout the service. Towards the end, the older one put her hand around the younger one’s ear and whispered something to her. The younger one burst out laughing and she couldn’t help herself, laughing loudly and shaking for the rest of the service!
Even the people in her party looked at her with distaste. I don’t know why they bothered to come when it was their own entertainment. They ruined the service for that whole part of the church.
Would it be wrong or inappropriate for me to ask these women to excuse themselves from the service?
GENTLE READER: Since it wasn’t just a case of church giggles, Miss Manners believes you could have politely asked them to speak elsewhere. It seems they would be more than happy to have an excuse to do so.
(Send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or by mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
COPYRIGHT 2025 JUDITH MARTIN
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
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