IN-DEPTH: Home Church Pastor Says Constitutional Right Violated After City Issued Cease-and-Desist

Published on December 12, 2023

A pastor of a home-based church in Rogers, Minnesota, is facing a city government cease-and-desist order after a complaint was allegedly filed by a neighbor. According to the Minnesota-based Alpha News publication that obtained a copy of the letter sent by the city of Rogers Development Director Brett Angell, the pastor for The Edge Christian Fellowship, Martin Bownik, is violating a zoning ordinance stating that “religious assembly is a principal use within the zoning district for your property and not allowed accessory use.” “The use of your residence as a religious assembly is in direct violation of this code,” Mr. Angell told Mr. Bownik in a Nov. 17 letter. “Lastly, this use would be in violation of the Minnesota State Fire Code and Minnesota Building Code.”...

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