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UMC organization files lawsuit against NJ over civil-union issue

A New Jersey ministry of the United Methodist Church has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the state from forcing it to violate its religious beliefs. The controversy surrounds use of UMC-owned property for a same-sex civil union ceremony.

The lawsuit was filed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the UMC. New Jersey officials have threatened to prosecute the Association for refusing to allow two homosexual women to rent the facility for a same-sex civil union ceremony in the Boardwalk Pavilion, one of the Association's beachside facilities.

Brian Raum, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), says this action by the state is "a gross violation" of the denomination's First Amendment rights. The government, he argues, cannot force a private Christian organization to use its property in a way that would violate its own religious beliefs.

"What's at stake is the First Amendment rights of the Camp Meeting Association and every other religious organization that desires to operate in a manner consistent with the Bible, consistent with their religious tradition," says Raum.

The ADF attorney contends this is the type of government interference Thomas Jefferson warned against when he referred to the "separation of church and state" in his famous letter to the Danbury Baptists.

"This is a situation where the government is entangling themselves with a church, a religious organization and that's the kind of separation we need. We need the government to not interfere with churches."

The doctrine and beliefs of the United Methodist Church prohibit civil union ceremonies. The Ocean Grove location has been used for more than a century for church and worship services. Current uses include such services, a weekday Bible program for students, summertime gospel music concerts, and other church-related events.