Anchor Stone Christian Church, which ministers to a community of first-generation Chinese Americans in Santa Ana and Orange County, had become embroiled in a legal battle over a plan to occupy a new building. Initially, the City of Santa Ana was supportive, but now cites zoning regulations to explain why they won’t approve the plans for the new building.
Anchor Stone started as a home prayer group in 2018. As the group began to spread the gospel to Chinese immigrants, it grew rapidly. Within a few years, the congregation became too large for a home and they began to look for a permanent location. The Church quickly found a building located in a suburban office park. In order to house Anchor Stone, minor renovations would be required as well as a permit from the city.
Before purchasing the building, church members approached city planners Steven Lee, the secretary of Anchor Stone Christian Church, recalls that initially there was no pushback. “So we’re thinking that, OK, then we’re just sending our application to the city without hesitations,” he reminisced. However, since then, negations have gone south and the city is blocking the church from meeting.
After the Church purchased the building, the city denied a permit to use it as a “religious assembly.” Despite being given the go-ahead by city planners, Santa Ana declined to approve the building permit. According to officials, “assembly” is not permitted under current zoning regulations. Anchor Stone made an appeal to the City Council, but their motion was denied.
Lawyers representing the church have raised religious liberty concerns. Anchor Stone’s legal representatives believe they are protected under both the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) a federal law. Frustrated by a lack of response, Anchor Stone Christian Church is worried they will have to sue the city.
In the RLUIPA, governments are barred from creating land use laws that pose “a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person [or] … religious assembly.” The Government can restrict these rights, but only if there is “a compelling governmental interest.” Ryan Gardner, an attorney with First Liberty Institute who has taken the side of Anchor Stone, says the city failed to meet that standard.
In a letter to the head of the city’s planning department, lawyers noted that the Church has sustained serious losses. According to this document, Anchor Stone has lost more than $575,000. They contend that the permit denial has driven members of the church, who are frustrated by the slow progress, away. This has cost the Church income. The cost of property taxes and maintenance on an empty building has strained Anchor Stone’s finances. They plead for the city to immediately grant the permit or face legal action.
“One of the really ironic things about this is that there’s literally a church across the street. I think just common sense would say, if there’s a church across the street, then surely it’s OK to have a church here as well” says Gardner an attorney for First Liberty Institute. However Lee is hopeful; “We want to spread the gospel in the area,” he said. “I believe that’s what Father gives us permission to do.”