WorldNetDaily carries the shocking report about the East Valley city of Gilbert, Arizona ordering a group of seven adults to stop gathering for Bible studies in a private home because such meetings are forbidden by the city’s zoning codes.
You read that right!
The issue was brought to a head when city officials wrote a cease and desist letter to Pastor Joe Sutherland and his wife, Leah, informing them they had 10 days to discontinue having the meetings in their own home.
The ban, however, prompted a response from the Scottsdale-based Alliance Defense Fund, which filed an appeal with the city as the first step in its campaign to overturn a provision it describes as illegal.
Read the complete WND article here.
The City of Gilbert is acting in a repressive manner, choosing to disregard the First Amendment protections contained in The Bill of Rights — ensuring freedom of speech and assembly. The Mayflower came to our shores filled with people who desired to practice their religion without government interference.
Gilbert city officials obviously need a refresher course in American History — with an emphasis on the founding documents.
Thank God for the Alliance Defense Fund! This action by the city of Gilbert shows how low we are sinking. ALL of these people, from the Mayor on down to the last council member need to be removed.
Here is the information on the mayor and town council. Their contact information is available in a box on the upper-right side of the screen.
http://www.ci.gilbert.az.us/council/
Just in case they remove it, Here it is. Give them a call! In fact, call each one of them!
Mayor and Council
50 E Civic Center Dr
Gilbert, AZ 85296
(480) 503-6764
John Lewis, Mayor
(480) 503-6860
Linda Abbott, Council member
(480) 503-6764 (wk)
(480) 892-3486 (hm)
Dave Crozier, Council member
(623) 393-6661 (wk)
(602) 568-7338 (cell)
Jenn Daniels, Council member
(480) 205-9685 (cell)
Les Presmyk, Council member
(480) 892-0779 (hm)
John Sentz, Council member
(480) 545-5529 (hm)
Steve Urie, Council member
(480) 539-5700 (wk)
(480) 830-8355 (hm)
I don’t have a problem with towns creating codes to control signage, traffic, parking, etc., but when they make a code specifically to control religious discussion — how and when it can happen — they’ve gone too far. If anything, I’d like to see the opposite. I’d like for them to say, “Hey, that sign is not within compliance, but because it’s for religious purposes and it’s not really hurting anyone, we’ll let it slide.”
Most of Gilbert is run by members of the LDS church who have training by elders for prospective members in the members home, church business meetings in bishops homes and home visits by women of the church to others within their stake. I don’t see ANY of that being stopped.
I have sent this information to Christian friends and we will be fighting right along the Alliance Defense folks and melting down the phones on this.
This is an outrage- and in a town that touts Constitution Week!
I agree with everyone that the government has no business telling who, when, where and how people can worship. At first glance, I was appalled like the rest of you.
Looking at the Cease and Desist letter, I believe this is more about the signs than the meeting.
It is one thing to have friends over for a Bible Study, it is quite another to advertise for strangers to attend a private residence on public streets. The neighbors may not be happy with that scenario.
Uuuuhhh…nightcrawler….I’ve got a few questions for ya’. Isn’t Gilbert located in Arizona? And isn’t Arizona located in th’ United States of America? And isn’t America “The Land of the FREE”? Do ya’ see where I’m goin’? So what if these AMERICANS put up signs “advertising” a BIBLE STUDY in their home? Now, if they LEAVE th’ signs layin’ around, clutterin’ up th’ landscape, in effect…POLLUTING…THAT might be something LEGIT to “cite” them for…”Littering”. Have you read thru the CONSTITUTION…LATELY?
However, I would ask you to stop & THINK about letting the city gubmint get away with this kind of prosecution. ‘Cuz if it was MY house, there’d be some prosecutin’ goin’ on, baby! If the citizens allow this kind of intrusion, you open a pandora’s box that’s full of socilaism, marxism, & th’ new world order…which was originally put out by Ronald Reagan’s(angels singing here!) Vice President, Geo. H.W. Bush…who was an absolute disgrace…in my opinion. Schmuck.
The city of Gilbert disrespects themselves with this…& everybody knows it. It stinks to High Heaven like a revenue generator. I’ve said many times before that “When law enforcement & the judicary are used for revenue generation, FREEDOM & LIBERTY are tossed aside!” Better wake up & smell th’ coffee, sir. All this hopey-changey crap is fine & good till it comes a-kickin’ YER door in…& it sure looks like Gilbert’s a willing participant to me…
Oh! And 1 other thing…in AMERICA…I’ll bloody have WHOEVER I WANT IN MY HOME! (that includes stinkin’ gilbert…) Ant the neighbors need to mind their own business, DAMMIT!
Doc,
Up your way, not far from Prescott there are folks who practice new age religions including witchcraft. Would it be ok for them to put up signs and ask for new members to come to their home, say they are your neighbors ? How about some of the more cult like groups like the Moonies who recruit teenagers ? History is a good teacher, research…
Crawler…well as much as it pains me, I must state unequivocablly…YES. The 1st Amendment GUARANTEES FREEDOM OF RELIGION. Whether I personally agree with a person’s choices or not is MOOT. The Constitution provides this Liberty for ALL AMERICANS. For the record, I keep a copy of The Constitution & ALL Amendments WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. I have done the research, sir…& I respectfully disagree with your position. The Constitution doesn’t provide for your “opinion”, or mine. Liberty is Liberty…Do some research of your own, with Liberty as your foundation. You may be surprized at what you find & feel deep down…
I think there needs to be more information to this article. I’m sure the Mayor and other officials don’t have a problem with people gathering to read the bible, or discuss religion. I think what could end up being a problem is if this discussion grows and grows and turns into a type of church…with tons and tons of cars parking in the neighborhood, signage, etc. As a homeowner in Gilbert, I have NO problem with what people want to discuss in their homes, or if they have friends/others over to talk religion, etc. What would cause a problem for me is if my street had tons of cars coming and going, and people parking all up and down my street to attend one of these “gatherings”. If this church/religious discussion grows too big, then by all means, it needs to be moved out of the home and held in an area that can accommodate traffic, etc. more appropriately.
[...] Red AZ was seeing red when previously covering this. Thanks to the lawyers with the Alliance Defense Fund, it appears reason has overcome [...]
[...] Seeing Red AZ: “WorldNetDaily carries the shocking report about the East Valley city of Gilbert, Arizona ordering a group of seven adults to stop gathering for Bible studies in a private home because such meetings are forbidden by the city’s zoning codes . . . The ban, however, prompted a response from the Scottsdale-based Alliance Defense Fund, which filed an appeal with the city as the first step in its campaign to overturn a provision it describes as illegal.” [...]