Posted on 09/17/2002 1:01:57 AM PDT by ppaul
CASSADAGA, FL - On September 5, 2002, the Volusia County Council approved a settlement agreement that ends a federal lawsuit filed by Dunamis Community and Outreach Ministries and grants to the church the right to locate in Cassadaga, Florida. The settlement makes Dunamis the first Christian church to locate in Cassadaga, which describes itself as a "metaphysical mecca." Dunamis is represented by Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, and Erik W. Stanley, Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel.Believing that God had led it to minister to the community of Cassadaga, Dunamis purchased property 0.8 of a mile from the center of the spiritualist town in order to build a church. The church applied for zoning approval and, after two contentious public hearings attended by spiritualists from Cassadaga who said they did not want to be evangelized by the church, Volusia County denied the church's zoning request. Dunamis filed suit on May 31, 2001, claiming that the denial of zoning violated its rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 ("RLUIPA"). RLUIPA was enacted to provide churches with protection when they go before zoning boards to seek approval to build or expand. The law had broad-based support, was co-sponsored by Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch and was signed in 2000 by President Clinton. Trial was scheduled in Dunamis' case for October of this year. The settlement entered into by the Church and the County gives the Church zoning approval to build a sanctuary on its property and obligates the County to pay the Church's attorney's fees and costs. The County also has undertaken to revise its zoning code to bring itself into compliance with the new federal law.
Cassadaga describes itself as the "metaphysical mecca" of Florida. The 57-acre town is populated almost exclusively by "Spiritualists," whose beliefs are based on the notion that one can communicate with the dead. George Colby, a Spiritualist from New York, stated that he was led in 1875 to the area by his "spirit guide," Seneca. He started the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association and donated land to the camp to hold Spiritualist meetings. Local mediums claim that Cassadaga is at a place where the spirit plane and the earth plane are very close.
Erik Stanley stated, "This settlement establishes the first Christian church in Cassadaga - an area most churches have specifically avoided because of its spiritualist nature. We are pleased with the settlement and are pleased that the Volusia County Council agreed to abide by the law and grant the Church zoning approval." Mathew Staver remarked, "Cities and Counties are not to treat churches like any other business when it comes to zoning. Churches have special protection under federal law and should be given special consideration when they come up for zoning approval." Staver concluded, "Volusia County did not follow the law when it denied Dunamis zoning approval. Other cities and counties would do well to ensure their zoning codes are in compliance with the law and that they give churches the rights they deserve."
LOL! Scenic route?! No wonder the spiritualists lost, calling that area scenic is quite a stretch. Perhaps that's what swayed the federal court into believing it was about a religious issue.
I had my husband drive me by there finally after all these years (wanted to be with a strong man, just in case ya know...) and I couldn't believe what a hole in the wall it was. I thought the town was down right ugly!
Good for the members of Mr. Ferro's Dunamis Community and Outreach Ministries! Victory against the wackos!
To tie this post back into the "news and current events" Freeper purpose -- most muslims are saved as a result of a "power experience" with the Christian deity.
It is a "gated town consisting of century old homes built at the time that Spiritulism was born up here.
Many years ago at this time of year when the sooth sayers moved south we decided to go and hold a worship service on the grounds of Spiritulist community(right next to the rock they say the spirits enter and leave by) I brought my guitar and we planned on singing and praying over that land
The guard was not at the post (there is usually an entrance fee) ..so we drove into the quaint town..parked and started to walk to the rock . The town was as silent as death. Soon a car pulled up behind us..in it was a security guard and a man and woman.
The guard got out and told us we were trespassing on private property. We appologized and explained our mission..The man and woman got out of the car....she came to us and introduced herself to us as the "towns " mayor.
We again explained our mission..she then said the most amazing thing to us..something I wish that everyone that has a palm read or their cards read would hear. She said they were refusing us the right to pray there because " We worship a different god than you do
She admitted to us they worshipped a different god..amazing...the hidden came to light
We prayed outside the gate and left...
Inspite of what you may read...Satan is not bound ..he roams the world seeking to devour...Lily Dale is one of his restaurants
One RC friend of my son's was telling us she had gone there. I tried not to come down HARD on her..but I asked if she understood where the infomation she got was coming from...she said she didn't care..it gave her comfort..
I told her it was a false comfort and then dropped it (I was a guest in the home) see I do know how to behave in public:>)
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ASSADAGA, Fla., June 8 — This quiet village, secluded despite its proximity to Interstate 4 between Daytona Beach and Orlando, is a place that people seem led to — at times, in a cosmic sense.