Judge orders Avondale church re-opened during lawsuit
A federal judge has ordered Avondale Estates to let a church resume its activities as it pursues a discrimination case against the small DeKalb County city.
Judge Charles A. Pannell Jr. on Thursday ordered the city allow Christ Liberty Family Center to re-open for worship and other activities. The church plans a service at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at its leased property, 137 Maple St.
City officials shut down the church in April, saying doesn’t have enough room for parking and did not request a permit from the city. The church responded with a federal lawsuit, saying the city’s actions violate the Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Act.
The city argues that the zoning violations that prompted the shut down were not discriminatory because the church and landlord didn’t follow proper procedure.
The lawsuit is ongoing.
