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Methodist Camp Tax Exemption Revoked for Not Hosting Same-Sex Union
IRD ^
| 20 Sep 07
| Loralei Coyle
Posted on 09/21/2007 8:15:18 PM PDT by xzins
Press Releases
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New Jersey Attacks Religious Freedom by Revoking Methodist Camp Tax Exemption for Not Hosting Same-Sex Union
Contact: Loralei Coyle (202) 682-4131
“Contrary to New Jersey's assertions, the Ocean Grove Camp Ground Association has not limited the use of its boardwalk pavilion to any person, rather it has prohibited some BEHAVIOR, according to the principles of the United Methodist Church.”
—Mark Tooley, Executive Director UMAction
________________________
Washington, DC—Ocean Grove Camp Ground in New Jersey was founded and has been privately owned by a Methodist organization since the 19th century. New Jersey is now threatening its tax-exempt status because the camp ground will not host homosexual ceremonies, in compliance with the teachings of the United Methodist Church. According to the New York Times, the state commissioner of environmental protection declined to recertify a boardwalk pavilion as tax exempt because the camp ground would not allow a lesbian rite there. The lesbian couple has filed a civil rights complaint with the state against the Ocean Grove Camp Ground Association.
The boardwalk pavilion of the Ocean Grove Campground in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. (Photo courtesy Patricia Sheaffer) |
Methodists founded the privately-owned camp ground in the 19th century as a place for spiritual revival and continue to operate it today. Association leaders point to the United Methodist Church’s official prohibition against same-sex unions on church property.
IRD Director of UMAction Mark Tooley responded:
The state ruled that the boardwalk pavilion no longer met the tax-exempt requirement as a place fully open to the public, which is inaccurate. The pavilion is in fact open to all people, and the lesbian couple in this dispute could have used it for any number of purposes other than the celebration of a ceremony that the United Methodist Church specifically prohibits on church property.
Contrary to New Jersey's assertions, the Ocean Grove Camp Ground Association has not limited the use of its boardwalk pavilion to any person, rather it has prohibited some BEHAVIOR, according to the principles of the United Methodist Church.
The New Jersey government is now interfering with the camp association’s religious liberty by revoking its green space tax exemption. This tax exemption had previously been renewed year after year without objection. Now suddenly it has become endangered in a vindictive political attack unrelated to environmental protection or green space.
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TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS: camp; gaystapo; government; homosexualagenda; lesbian; methodist; newjersey; oceangrove; umc
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According to the New York Times, the state commissioner of environmental protection declined to recertify a boardwalk pavilion as tax exempt because the camp ground would not allow a lesbian rite there..(snip)....a vindictive political attack unrelated to environmental protection or green space.
1
posted on
09/21/2007 8:15:23 PM PDT
by
xzins
To: jude24; P-Marlowe; blue-duncan; Kolokotronis; Congressman Billybob; wmfights; Dr. Eckleburg; ...
2
posted on
09/21/2007 8:22:32 PM PDT
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
To: xzins
I can remember when homosexual activists said that all they wanted was privacy. They argued that what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedroom is nobody else's business.
Well, the boardwalk is not a bedroom.
3
posted on
09/21/2007 8:25:45 PM PDT
by
Logophile
To: Logophile
Apparently the NJ State EPA considers lesbian ceremonies an environmental issue.
Can’t keep the natives from copulating in public, you know. Lost carbon credits and all that.
4
posted on
09/21/2007 8:30:58 PM PDT
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
To: xzins
5
posted on
09/21/2007 8:34:00 PM PDT
by
Kevmo
(We should withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran. And Duncan Hunter is just the man to get that job done.)
To: xzins
The legal response of the Methodist Church could be to post a sign saying that "All non-Methodists are forbidden from using this property until further notice. We apologize for this inconvenience, and urge all who want the Methodist Church to go back to making this property available to all New Jersey citizens, to call [BUREAUCRAT] at [NUMBER] to change this policy."
Congressman Billybob
Latest article, "Dan Rather, CBS, Plus Duke"
6
posted on
09/21/2007 9:07:51 PM PDT
by
Congressman Billybob
(2008 IS HERE, NOW. www.ArmorforCongress.com)
To: Congressman Billybob
I have just realized a connection between the gay movement and islam in non islamic states. Both employ incrementalism: all I want is... But, no matter what they get, they want more. Both have a hatred of the fundamentals of Western civilization. Gays so cultivate their victim status in their own minds that they are filled with hatred and are ready to continue destroying the fabric of this country. Next thing they will be challenging the tax exempt status of all church which dont perform same sex unions. They are set to tear our world assunder! Imagine, with all the Christians gone, it will be a global war between secularists and gays against islam. Interesting.
7
posted on
09/21/2007 9:16:56 PM PDT
by
jacero10
(Non nobis domine, sed nomine tuo da gloriam.)
To: Congressman Billybob
LOL. That would definitely get the local’s attention.
Having lived there about half a year I’m not sure the authorities really care what people think.
8
posted on
09/21/2007 9:34:56 PM PDT
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
To: xzins
This needs to be appealed, federally.
9
posted on
09/21/2007 9:37:15 PM PDT
by
darkangel82
(Socialism is NOT an American value.)
10
posted on
09/21/2007 9:54:30 PM PDT
by
Rabble
(The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others !!)
To: xzins
Ocean Grove has experienced increasing gay influence in recent years. A few years ago the New York Times featured an article on the number of gays who had moved into the community. This is not the Ocean Grove I remember vacationing in with my family when I was a child in the 1940s.
11
posted on
09/22/2007 2:04:40 AM PDT
by
Upbeat
To: xzins
Let’s find a Unitarian camp and try to hold a Minuteman rally. Then we can see how inclusive they are
12
posted on
09/22/2007 4:43:39 AM PDT
by
AppyPappy
(If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
To: xzins; Logophile
xzins: “Cant keep the natives from copulating in public, you know. Lost carbon credits and all that.”
Not to be picking nits....But I don’t think “copulating” quite fits the description of what is going on here. These are Lesbians, you know.
Personally, I am for inventing some new term for “same-sex” activity - it should be on par with “perversion”, “beastiality”, or “pedophile”. What these people are doing cannot be normalized by calling it “having sex”.
To: AppyPappy
Rotflol!
What an excellent idea!!
14
posted on
09/22/2007 4:52:22 AM PDT
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
To: visually_augmented
It was an attempted humorous response to post #3.
15
posted on
09/22/2007 4:53:22 AM PDT
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
To: visually_augmented
Personally, I am for inventing some new term for same-sex activity - it should be on par with perversion, beastiality, or pedophile. What these people are doing cannot be normalized by calling it having sex. I use 'abomination'. And I don't care if it implies hatred.
So glad I left NJ 3 years ago and moved to KS.
16
posted on
09/22/2007 5:09:11 AM PDT
by
DaveMSmith
(Matt 13:9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!)
To: xzins
Unbelievable. I hope this gets overturned in court. It certainly should be.
To: Zack Nguyen
The problem is the difference between our people and our agencies. The people are generally leaning in a conservative direction. The agency heads generally lean in a radical left direction. So, the issue becomes someone taking the lead to push back against the state of New Jersey. I’m hoping some enterprising lay person steps forward.
18
posted on
09/22/2007 5:13:46 AM PDT
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
To: jacero10
Islam would win...! The savoring salt has been rejected, now bitterness and death will flavor our world!
To: AppyPappy
Worse find a unitarian camp and try to sing Silent Night at a Christmas Ceremony.
I knew a couple who started going to a unitarian group and they were singing “holiday songs”. Their son asked to sing “Silent Night” and the went nuts. They couldn’t do that.
They tolerate anything but Christ.
20
posted on
09/22/2007 6:56:14 AM PDT
by
festus
(No matter how guilty you are a jury will probably get you off.)
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