Church Life

Class Warfare

Virginia megachurch sues county for barring theology courses.

A Washington-area megachurch filed a federal lawsuit July 3 challenging a government ruling that it was improperly holding seminary-level classes on church grounds.

The nondenominational McLean Bible Church, which draws about 9,500 worshipers weekly to its services in Fairfax County, Virginia, partnered with Capitol Bible Seminary in 2001 to offer Bible study and religious ministry classes. The church did not issue academic credit or confer degrees. But students were allowed to take classes at the church for credit toward a master’s degree in biblical studies and theology from the seminary.

Three years after the classes began, Fairfax County officials determined they went beyond those of a typical Sunday school. The county said McLean would need to apply for zoning status as a college or university, which the church wished to avoid.

Colby May, an American Center for Law and Justice attorney handling the case, said McLean filed the lawsuit after exhausting all administrative remedies with the county. May said the church was willing to change procedural aspects of the program, but not the curriculum. He said Fairfax County had authorized McLean to hold the classes, based on a special-use permit issued by the county in 1999. According to May, the permit says “church facilities shall only be made available for use by groups or activities which are sponsored by the church and are consistent with its ministry objectives.”

The church’s suit claims that Fairfax County’s actions violate its constitutional rights to religious free exercise, as well as freedom of speech and association. A public relations representative from Fairfax County, which has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit, declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

News elsewhere includes:

Church sues Fairfax County to keep religion classes | Offering courses violates zoning ordinances, officials ruled (Washington Post, July 18, 2006)

County responds to McLean Bible suit | A lawsuit filed earlier this month in federal court contends that Fairfax County zoning authorities are standing in the way of a local church’s constitutional right to religious freedom. (Fairfax County Times, Va., July 26, 2006)

Va. Megachurch Sues County to Keep Classes | A megachurch in northern Virginia is suing Fairfax County so that it can keep giving religion classes that help students get a master’s degree. (Associated Press, Jul. 18 2006)

More CT articles about church battles with local government include:

Federal Judge Rules Parts of Church Land-Use Law Unconstitutional | Groups plan to help Elsinore Christian Center appeal zoning case. (July 11, 2003)

No Religion-Based Zoning | Illinois Vineyard church wins right to worship in its own building. (May 13, 2003)

Feds Intervene in Zoning Case | Elsinore Christian Center seeks to relocate into commercial zone. (Oct. 3, 2001)

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Young, Restless, Reformed

'Divine Conspirator' Dallas Willard Dies at 77

It's All About God

Inside C.S. Lewis's Toolbox

Embrace Your Inner Pentecostal

China's New Legal Eagles

Spiritual Classics

What Happened to Religion in Canada?

Despair Not

The Call of Samuel

Logic Left Behind

The Whole Word for the Whole World

Jeffrey Dahmer's Story of Faith

For Shame?

Christ's Story

Postcard from Africa

Editorial

God's Will in the Public Square

The Truth Is Somewhere

Wrongful Love

Theology for an Age of Terror

News

Quotation Marks

The New Missions Generation

News

Go Figure

News

<em>Christianity Today</em> News Briefs

News

Passages

Excerpt

A Call to an Ancient Evangelical Future

Together in the Jesus Story

Nicholas Kristof on Evangelicals, China, and Human Rights

'Volcanic' Response

We're Not Spectators

Bygone Protests

Two Degrees of Separation

News

Scrubbing CleanFlicks

Thinking Straight

Echoes and Voices from Beyond

How to Create Cynics

Sermons of Frederick Buechner

Estranged Bedfellows

The Problem with Prophets

Sit Down, Sit Down for Jesus?

Pluralist Impotence

Dr. Willard's Diagnosis

View issue

Our Latest

New Archbishop of Canterbury Steps into Anglican Divides

Conservatives call on Sarah Mullally, the first woman at the spiritual helm of the Church of England, to uphold biblical faith amid same-sex blessings debate.

News

FDA Approves Generic Abortion Pill

Students for Life leader calls the move “a stain on the Trump presidency.”

News

John Cornyn’s MAGA-land Challenge

The incumbent senator is up against his strongest challenge yet in populist-right leader Ken Paxton.

Fighting Korea’s Loneliness Epidemic with Cafés and Convenience Stores

Seoul recently introduced free public services to tackle social isolation. Christians have been doing that for years.

You Haven’t Heard Worship Music like This

John Van Deusen’s praise is hard-won and occasionally wordless.

Excerpt

‘Don’t Take It If You Don’t Need It’

The Trump administration releases new recommendations for Tylenol use during pregnancy.

The Russell Moore Show

BONUS: Lecrae on Reconstruction after Disillusionment

 Lecrae joins Russell Moore to take questions from Christianity Today subscribers

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube