Complaint against religious organization for refusal to allowalesbian couple to use property for a civil union ceremony

[Volokh, Eugene]

	It's apparently a freestanding structure that the Camp Meeting
Association often uses for worship services, but also lets members of
the public use for their secular and religious activities. See
http://www.ogcma.org/pages/pavilionpraise for what seems like a photo.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu 
> [mailto:religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of 
> Brownstein, Alan
> Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 4:12 PM
> To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics
> Subject: RE: Complaint against religious organization for 
> refusal to allowalesbian couple to use property for a civil 
> union ceremony
> 
> What is a "Boardwalk Pavilion"? Is it like the multi-purpose 
> room of a church that may be used for both secular and 
> religious activities?
> 
> Alan Brownstein
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu
> [mailto:religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of 
> Volokh, Eugene
> Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 3:58 PM
> To: religionlaw at lists.ucla.edu
> Subject: Complaint against religious organization for refusal 
> to allow alesbian couple to use property for a civil union ceremony
> 
> Any thoughts about the complaint at
> http://www.stephenhyland.com/2007/06/20/OGCMA.pdf?
> 
> It appears that a lesbian couple wanted to hold a civil union 
> ceremony at a Boardwalk Pavilion owned by the Ocean Grove 
> Camp Meeting Association, a Methodist religious organization 
> (http://www.ogcma.org/pages/aboutus).  ("The Ocean Grove Camp 
> Meeting Association is a ministry organization whose mission 
> is to provide opportunities for spirtual birth, growth, and 
> renewal in a Christian seaside setting....  Founded in 1869, 
> the Camp Meeting continues to put on a vibrant program of 
> preaching, teaching and celebration throughout the summer 
> months....  The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is a 
> non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees....  
> By charter, all trustees must be members of the United 
> Methodist Church.  At least ten of these members must be 
> clergy and at least ten must be
> non-clergy.")
> 
> The Association apparently refused to allow its property to 
> be used for the ceremony.  The couple is complaining to the 
> New Jersey Division on Civil Rights that this is unlawful 
> public accommodation discrimination based on "civil union 
> status," N.J. Stat. Ann. 10:5-12 (here, "impending civil 
> union status," in the words of the complainants).  
> "[Respondent's President] advised [complainants] that while 
> Respondent allows its facilities to be used for both 
> religious and secular activities, it would not permit its 
> facilities to be used for civil union ceremonies."
> 
> 
> New Jersey has no state RFRA, and New Jersey courts have 
> interpreted the state constitution as following the Smith model.
> 
> Eugene
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