City of Houston Trying to Seize Church Property

Religious Freedom, ,

The Housing Authority for the City of Houston is trying to use eminent domain to seize the property of two churches.

According various news sources and a lawsuit filed by two Houston area churches, the city is trying to implement an urban renewal program that involves the construction of a library and a 63-unit housing project. In order to complete the project, the city says it must obtain property owned by the Latter Day Deliverance Revival Church, a predominantly African-American congregation located in the neighborhood.

Eminent domain prevents the government from taking personal property without compensation. Traditionally, the government would work with property owners to negotiate a fair price for any property the government wishes to acquire.

In recent years, however, eminent domain powers have been applied more broadly in many contexts, forcing citizens and groups who do not necessarily wish to part with their property to do so in exchange for whatever compensation the courts deem fair. (more…)

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What Your Church Needs to Do in Response to the Supreme Court’s Ruling

Religious Freedom,

Many people are asking what they need to do in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision last Friday. First and foremost is protect people from the ruling’s most immediate, negative consequences.

Alliance Defending Freedom has produced some excellent material for churches if their First Amendment religious freedoms come under attack.

For starters, Alliance Defending Freedom highlights seven things every church needs in its by-laws. They are:

  1. A Formal Membership Policy
  2. Procedure for Member Discipline/Membership Revocation
  3. Procedure for Rescinding Membership
  4. Job Descriptions and Religious Grounds for Limiting Employment Opportunities
  5. Statement of Religious Belief Regarding Marriage
  6. Identify the Governing Body that is the Sole Authoritative Interpreter of Scripture
  7. Due Diligence Requirement for all Volunteers and Staff Who Work with Children

ADF also offers suggested wording for a statement of faith regarding marriage as well as some of the policies listed above. You can read it here.

Additionally, Alliance Defending Freedom recommends every church adopt a policy governing facility use; this may decrease the possibility of a church or religious organization being forced to open its property for an activity it finds objectionable. You can read ADF’s suggested facility use policy here.

Why is This Important?

It is important for churches to articulate their biblical views of marriage and sexuality as well as the role their staff and volunteers play in the church’s ministry. If a church is sued because, for example, the church refused to make its property available for a same-sex ceremony, a clear statement of faith regarding marriage coupled with a facility use policy can help verify the church is simply seeking to operate according to its sincerely-held religious beliefs.

Just as important as adopting policies, however, is consistently following those policies. 

These resources cannot prevent a church or religious organization from being singled-out for its religious principles, but they may provide additional layers of protection.

You can find these and other resources for free on Alliance Defending Freedom’s website.

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Unpacking the U.S. Supreme Court’s Marriage Decision

Marriage, , ,

On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court issued one of its worst rulings in the court’s history. The court’s opinion in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges struck state marriage laws and amendments nationwide defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In so doing, the court legalized same-sex marriage in all fifty states.

However, that is not all the court did. With this ruling, the court:

  • Fundamentally undermined American democracy;
  • Asserted itself as a legislative arm of government;
  • Took liberties with its interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and its amendments;
  • Paved the way for polygamy and further redefinition of marriage in America;
  • Recklessly placed religious liberty at risk.

Unfortunately, these are not exaggerations or wild claims. These are the logical outworkings of a very bad ruling–and they are concerns expressed by other members of the court. (more…)

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