Last week we shared with you about the town Gilbert in Arizona that banned home bible studies. Thanks to the Alliance Defense Fund and their work on this case, it appears that the bible study can now take place.
The Gilbert, Ariz., town council agreed on Monday to amend an ordinance that banned one small church from meeting in homes.
"I'm not willing to regulate what goes on in peoples' homes," Councilmember Jenn Daniels said, according to The Arizona Republic.
The council held a special meeting to discuss changes to the Land Development Code which currently prohibits the use of single family residential structures for religious assemblies.
It was convened after a relatively new church of seven members was ordered to stop holding Bible studies and worship services in the home of Pastor Joe Sutherland. The cease-and-desist order gained the national spotlight after attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed an appeal last week on behalf of Oasis of Truth Church.
Council members, however, said they were not aware of the order against Oasis of Truth when it was issued by a zoning administrator. Once they found out, they decided to make changes to the zoning code.
Expressing commitment to religious freedom, Gilbert Mayor John Lewis said, "It is unfortunate that the Council did not know about information given to the Oasis of Truth Church. Gilbert is known as a family-oriented community and our faith groups are a vital part of our Town. We want to keep it that way."
This is another video report about the Gilbert case.