Christian Web News - Gilbert, Arizona city officials say they now hope to make changes to the policies that led to a small church being told that they are not allowed to hold Bible studies in a home, according to the Alliance Defense Fund.

Today, officials in Gilbert, Arizona told WND in an e-mail that the changes apparently were apparently in the works while the city was still handing out warnings.

Vice Mayor Linda Abbot said in the e-mail, “This is a community with patriotic citizens who study and defend the Constitution. We understand the importance of maintaining religious freedom.”

On Friday, the Alliance Defense Fund reported that the city had demanded a group of seven adults to stop getting together for bible studies in a private home because those meeting are not allowed in the city's zoning codes.

In a letter from code compliance officer Steve Wallace, Pastor Joe Sutherland of Oasis of Truth Church was told that the people weren't allowed to meet in a home for church activities under the city's Land Development Code.

A written letter from Mike Milillo, the city's senior planning was then sent to the church providing confirmation: “The assembly activities associated with the church, including Bible studies, church leadership meetings, and church fellowship activities are not permitted.”

The ban encouraged the ADF to launch appeal with the city over the decision.

Daniel Blomberg, one of the attorneys who worked on the appeal, said, "The interpretation and enforcement of the town's code is clearly unconstitutional. It bans 200,000 Gilbert residents from meeting in their private homes for organized religious purposes – an activity encouraged in the Bible, practiced for thousands of years, and protected by the First Amendment."

“Gilbert remains committed to religious freedom” is now the headline of the statement by the city.

Under the names of the mayor, vice mayor and members of the council, the announcement sent to WND today said some six weeks ago members of the council learned that a zoning code "intended to help neighborhoods with traffic, parking and safety concerns" was being interpreted by town staff to mean that small church groups could not meet in homes.

"The council immediately asked town staff to make changes to the code and not enforce the code while changes were being considered," the announcement said.

"Unfortunately, without the town council's knowledge, one church group had already been told to stop holding meetings in their home. Last week the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed an appeal for the Oasis of Truth Church located in Gilbert. While town staff had anticipated presenting to the town council proposed zoning changes at the next town council meeting (scheduled for March 23), ADF's appeal reached the media on Friday, March 12, causing concern that town of Gilbert restricted religious freedom guaranteed in the Constitution."

Mayor John Lewis called it "unfortunate" that the council didn't know what employees were doing.

"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," he said.

According to the announcement, there was "overwhelming support" on the council to "expedite changes in the code."

"Yesterday, Mayor Lewis and Acting Town Manager Collin DeWitt attended the Sunday worship services of the Oasis of Truth Church. DeWitt said, 'We had a wonderful experience as we met with the three leaders of the church and their families. We are glad that they selected Gilbert as their home,'" the town announcement said.

According to the city, the town attorneys were being asked to involve the ADF and the church in the review process.

Dale Schowengerdt, who worked with Blomberg on the case, told WND the city also had confirmed it would not enforce the code while it was being changed, a process that could take several weeks.

"It is a very good sign," he said.

"I want to offer my apology to you, your wife and your congregation for the unfortunate events of the past several weeks," said the letter from Walter F. Ekard, chief officer of the county. "My review of the situation shows that no administrative citation warning should have been issued and that a major use permit is not required for the Bible study you have in your home."

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