Church Sues After City Turns ‘Hostile,’ Attacks Food Distribution Ministry

A church in Arizona has sued the city of San Luis for its suddenly “hostile” attitude to a much-used food distribution ministry after a new mayor was elected.

The action, brought by First Liberty Institute and the law firm Snell and Wilmer, seeks a preliminary injunction in a filing in federal court in Arizona, “urging the court to stop the City of San Luis from blocking Gethsemani Baptist Church from distributing food to the poor.’

That ministry, nearly 25 years old, “fills a critical need” in the city “because no other food ministries exist with the city.” . . .

“Although the church had operated the food ministry in the same manner for approximately twenty-three years without complaint, the city suddenly turned hostile, bombarding the church with a series of accusations that the church’s use of its property and semi-trucks [to deliver food] violate the city’s zoning code, and threatening to take enforcement action if the church does not cease its operations.”

The church explained it has been doing nothing illegal, and it promised to work through issues that could develop in the future, but city officials “refused to even discuss a solution that would allow the ministry to continue—even resorting to citing the church’s pastor for passing out food to just a few hungry people.” (Read more from “Church Sues After City Turns ‘Hostile,’ Attacks Food Distribution Ministry” HERE)