I must admit, that is rather funny.
Personally Bob, from the church perspective, I do believe I'd have taken a different approach on the matter. Several options come to mind -
Option #1 - one of which you had to mention TOO him (
) is to show up with mowers, weed-eaters and such, ring the doorbell and say, "Hello Sir, since it is early spring and many people haven't gotten the opportunity to get their yard equipment going yet, so we are going around to homes in the neigborhood this week fixing up their yards for them if they would like. Yours looks like it would take these fine men about 30 minutes to knock out all you gotta say is go fo it.
Option #2 - Who cares about your yard, when we are showing the new preacher around the church, if he points out your house tell him that that guy is a decent enough guy. His house might be agood place for the minister to visit.
Option #3 - (as a minister) I show up with the deacons (similar to #1 above) they mow the yard while we sit on the porch and supervise the work while we chat about the Planet and such.
I don't really see anything wrong with your perspective. Basically what that church has done is told you and every other neigbor that you aren't up to their standards when they critique like that. I have a hard time with folks like that. It is sorry that they had to act that way.