In North Carolina, a dispute is underway regarding the expansion of The Summit Church, led by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners is arguing that the issue at hand is not about religious discrimination, but rather about the distribution of power.
The church's request to rezone a significant amount of land for its Chapel Hill campus was denied, prompting a lawsuit. The county is now appealing a preliminary injunction granted in favor of the church. This injunction was issued in response to allegations of religious discrimination.
The case is being considered under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal law that protects religious institutions from discriminatory zoning practices. The law, enacted in 2000, aims to safeguard religious freedom in various contexts, including local zoning decisions.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners' attorney, Steven Bader, presented the county's argument before a panel of judges, emphasizing that the dispute is about separation of powers rather than religious freedom.