News Release  

Palm Beach County, FL - After an avalanche of public opposition, the Palm Beach County Commission appears to be abandoning a proposed ordinance designed to limit the maximum size of churches to 750 seats in residential areas, with even smaller limitations in suburban (500) and rural neighborhoods (250). The calculation for the total number of seats was to include the sanctuary and the entire church complex.

Last week Liberty Counsel wrote a letter to the Commissioners stating that a proposed zoning ordinance is unconstitutional and subject to legal challenge. In addition to local calls and emails, a nationally broadcast radio interview on Crosstalk generated a flood of calls from locals and tourists around the country asking the Commission to not approve the ordinance. The Commission has now voted to advertise an Amendment to the Unified Land Development Code which deletes the seat limitation on churches. The first reading for these amendments will be on May 25, 2006.

Commenting on this situation, Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, said: "We are pleased that Palm Beach County did the right thing in revising the proposed ordinance to remove the seat limitation on churches without costly litigation. We will continue to closely monitor the ordinance along with the actions of the county officials to ensure that churches are not targeted for discriminatory treatment. Several churches are in the zoning approval process. Even if the threat of the proposed ordinance is past for now, we will not tolerate any retribution or discriminatory treatment against any church. We will closely monitor any unnecessary delays and burdens placed on any church seeking zoning approval."

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer was established by an act of Congress in 1952. This year, President Bush and all 50 governors will proclaim Thursday, May 4, as the 55th Annual National Day of Prayer. This year's theme is "America, Honor God".

Mat Staver is scheduled to speak at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in Rogers, Arkansas tomorrow. The breakfast will be held at the Embassy Suites at 6:30 a.m. Rogers is the largest city in Benton County, due to its proximity to major employers such as J. B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, Fuji Film and WalMart.

Here in Florida, Governor Jeb Bush will be the keynote speaker at a capitol rally in Tallahassee. Throughout the nation there will be prayer breakfasts, prayer walks, and prayer gatherings at city halls, churches, schools and parks. For a list of events in your state, go to the National Day of Prayer web site.

Special Prayer Request

Our friend, Ron Cook, pastor of Southpointe Baptist Fellowship in Leesburg, Florida, had a melanoma removed from his side last week and will undergo surgery on Friday to remove his lymph nodes. Please pray for Ron, his wife Rodetta and the church. Mat Staver will preach at Southpointe this Sunday, May 7 at the 9:15 and 10:45 services. Mat is also the scheduled guest for Radio Live with Phyllis Schlafly on Saturday, May 6 at noon (EST). You can listen to the live broadcast online at http://www.eagleforum.org/radio/

We Praise the Lord for our Friends --

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