Praise Christian Center Update

Advocates for Faith and Freedom’s attorneys are once again fighting for a church’s right to be treated as equal to secular institutions!

Several years ago, Pastor Derek Anunciation, Senior Pastor of Praise Christian Center, came to us with an impassioned plea for assistance.  His church was small but growing and needed space to meet while they built up their membership and presence in Huntington Beach, California.  However, when Pastor Anunciation asked for permission to rent a building to hold church services, the City of Huntington Beach imposed arbitrary and burdensome conditions in an apparent attempt to prevent the church from actually occupying the building.  As a result, the Church was forced to find an alternative place to hold services.

Advocates’ attorneys then brought a lawsuit against the City of Huntington Beach arguing that the conditions applied to Praise Christian Center were excessive, arbitrary, and disproportionate to conditions imposed on other businesses.  The district court ruled that the City's sign ordinance was unconstitutional.  Unfortunately, the Court also ruled against the Church as to the excessive conditions. 

Advocates’ attorneys then appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the basis that the District Court erred in reviewing the evidence.  In February of 2008, Advocates’ attorneys argued the case before the Ninth Circuit and cited a federal statute designed to assure that churches are treated equally with secular assemblies when city officials apply building and zoning restrictions.   

On May 11, 2009, after a fourteen-month waiting period, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals finally issued a 1 ½ page opinion that dismissed the case!!  Advocates attorneys are now demanding that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reconsider its decision.  The decision may be reviewed by the three judges who initially dismissed the case or by a large panel of judges from the Ninth Circuit.

This information is provided by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a non-profit religious law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts!  To help us in our ongoing battle for religious freedom, click here to donate to Advocates.