A Permit for a Home Bible Study????? - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

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Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.

"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."

"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of Bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."

The couple is planning to dispute the county's order this week.

If San Diego County refuses to allow the pastor and his wife to continue gathering without acquiring a permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.

http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html?test=latestnews

Reply by Avah on May 29, 2009 at 10:44pm

Sigh, this is beyond sad. America, the "Christian" Nation which is tolerant of wiccans, gays and atheists, yet more and more displays it's true intolerance of anything having to do with Yahweh.

It's great that these people are standing up to this crazy law, may Yahweh give them victory and may His name be glorified.

Reply by Lev/Christopher on May 30, 2009 at 12:45am

The problem with this is that who defines where a religious assembly begins or ends? If an atheist invites some friends over to discuss the doctrine of evolution, express appreciation for Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins, is this not a religious assembly? This is just plain persecution against Christians. I can gather with my own family for prayers and study and that's ok but if I invite my neighbour who's an orphan to join us, that's not allowed. what if I adopt the orphan? Is it allowed then?

I hope they take out a lawsuit and put those idiotic politicians-playing-at-being-god behind bars.

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