7. His Word Ministries v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) This case is part of the C.L.U.B. action mentioned above. It involved essentially the same circumstances as the Ira Iglesia case. An Alderman reclassified a small bank facility to a manufacturing zone after a church had put a former branch bank facility under contract. However, it appears the motivation was religious rather than racial. The established church in the neighborhood did not want any competition and about 30 neighbors wrote the Alderman identical letters stating "we have enough churches.” 8. Christian Covenant Outreach Church v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) This case is also part of the C.L.U.B. action. A pastor voluntarily located his church in the most gang-infested part of Chicago and was successful in converting many hardened gang members to Christianity and a life of peace. The Chicago Sun Times even did a feature article commending his work in the community. The City successfully shut down the church by zoning lawsuits which the low income church of about 50 young people (mostly teens and 20's) was unable to afford to fight. Not long afterward on a Friday evening, a former gang member who would have otherwise been in the church singing in the choir during the Friday service was gunned down and killed at the very doorstep of the church permanently shut down by the City. 9. Christ Center v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) An African-American church spent years attempting to locate on the Near West Side of Chicago was denied one permit and told it could not obtain another. It finally became apparent that an African-American church would not be welcome in a designated nightclub development which was intended to serve an upper middle class white clientele. 10. Christian Bible Center v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) This church was denied zoning simply because some of the neighbors did not like them. When these same neighbors changed their minds two years later, the zoning was granted. In the meantime the church could not use its facility. 11. Mt. Zion Church v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) This church spent years trying to find an adequate facility in the City of Chicago while being chased by city inspectors. After several years the church found a facility, but in the meantime sustained great emotional and financial distress. 12. City of Chicago v. Evangelical Church of God (Chicago, Illinois) This church tried for a long period of time to secure a facility in a "proper" zone. When it became obvious that it could not find an adequate permanent facility in a proper zone, it was forced to purchase a facility in a zone where churches were not permitted. Although the City of Chicago is not enforcing its zoning ordinance against the church use at this time, it is pursuing a zoning lawsuit to shut down the church's Christian school. 13. Gethsemane Baptist v. City of Northlake (Northlake, Illinois) Church bought former VFW meeting hall but the city refused to let it use their facility for religious purposes. The church could not afford to litigate. 14. Amazing Grace Church v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) This African-American church was faced with zoning violation actions after a local Lithuanian community organization opposed its presence. Members of the organization shouted racial slurs and threw eggs at the cars of church members. 15. Faith Cathedral Church v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) The same neighborhood group that opposed Saving Grace Church opposed Faith Cathedral church for the same reasons. Neighborhood opposition necessitated a difficult zoning permit dispute before the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals. Despite the fact that the former funeral parlor which the church had purchased had a chapel and lots of parking the Zoning Board denied permission to use it for worship. After putting lots of money into improvement of a facility for church use, church was forced out of facility by a zoning enforcement action which it had insufficient funds to defend against. 17. Camper's Temple Sanctified C.O.G.I.C. v. City of Harvey (Harvey, Illinois) After operating an adult day care ministry and church for some time, the church was sued for zoning violations. The City had no zones where churches were permitted. The church could not afford legal representation and the Pastor is currently trying to defend the church by herself. 18. Pine Stream Morning Star Retreat v. Ogle County (Ogle County, Illinois) A Christian ministry led by Koreans sought to build a retreat facility on its land in a rural and relatively unpopulated area. Despite the fact that the facility would meet all of the county's requirements, the ministry was denied a permit when neighbors objected. The ministry also prosecuted and was rejected upon reapplication for a permit twice. 19. Vineyard Church of Chicago v. City of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) The circumstances of this case are the same as the 1ra Iglesia and His Word cases above. The local alderman reclassified a theater which had been unused for ten years into a manufacturing zone. However, the church did not file a lawsuit. 20. Evanston Vineyard v. City of Evanston (Evanston, Illinois) A church purchased an office building with an auditorium for church use. The zone allows cultural facilities defined as a "... theater, auditorium or other building... used primarily for musical dance, dramatic or other performances." Its special use permit application was denied despite the fact that all zoning criteria were satisfied. Illinois) 21. Cornerstone Community Church v. City of Chicago Heights (Chicago Heights, A church sought to purchase an abandoned department store, which had been on the market for three years without a reasonable offer. The property was in a zone that allowed meeting halls without a permit. The church sought an injunction in federal court to require the city to allow church use of the property. The city argued that there was some chance that it would gain tax revenue if another department store moved into the property, however unlikely. The Court ruled in favor of the city. 22. Korean Central Covenant Church v. City of Northbrook (Northbrook, Illinois) The church lost its request for a permit to hold services in an expanded facility. The facility was already legally used for church activities, and it met all zoning requirements except for the arbitrary approval of the City Planning Commission. There was evidence to suggest that neighbors simply wanted to keep Koreans out of the neighborhood. The City had no zone where churches were freely permitted. In addition, I have knowledge that the City of Chicago has attempted to shut down the following churches in recent years for lack of a permit to worship: New Life & Love Full Gospel Church, Joyful Harvest Christian Ministries, Shining Light Apostolic Church of God, and Outreach Miracle Temple. |