‘People who take action to care for the hungry should be encouraged and affirmed, not threatened and fined’
By Bob Unruh
A city ordinance that put a bull’s-eye on a church food-distribution program has been repealed, opening the door for the Seventh-Day Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, to continue its program to help people.
According to a report from the First Liberty Institute, the city’s ordinance that banned such programs was suspended earlier.
But now there’s been confirmation the provision has been repealed by the city, meaning the church can continue its food distribution ministry without the threat of immediate closure.
“The city previously agreed to allow the church to resume its food distribution ministry while it repealed its ordinance, and the city’s latest action of repealing the ordinance makes that temporary agreement permanent,” the legal team explained.
It was aided by the law firm Sidley Austin LLP in reaching the resolution.
“We are grateful to Daytona Beach city officials for working with us so that Seventh Baptist can resume its mission of providing food for the hungry, hurting people in the community,” Ryan Gardner, a First Liberty Institute lawyer, said in a statement. “People who take action to care for the hungry should be encouraged and affirmed. The church is thrilled to be able to continue helping those in need.”