News Release
For Immediate Release: 11.25.24
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Arizona District Court Denies City’s Motion to Dismiss Keeping Church’s Fight to Save Food Ministry Alive
The defense of Gethsemani Baptist Church and their mission to feed countless families in need continues after Judge rejects City of San Luis’ motion to dismiss.
San Luis, AZ— The U.S. District Court of Arizona rejected the motion to dismiss filed by the City of San Luis.
You can read the order here.
The city is aiming to stop Gethsemani Baptist Church’s food ministry, which regularly serves more than 200 families in the local community. The City’s motion tried to prevent the Church’s lawsuit from moving forward, but the District Court disagreed and will allow the case to proceed. First Liberty Institute and the law firm Snell & Wilmer will continue to defend the Church and work to restore its food ministry back to full operation.
“The city should vigorously support a church that meets the needs of those going hungry without using government resources,” stated Camille Varone, Associate Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “It’s indefensible that a city would purposefully stop a ministry that feeds the hungry. We hope to allow Gethsemani Baptist Church to once again provide care for the vulnerable, hurting people in the surrounding communities.”
Gethsemani Baptist Church has operated a food ministry in San Luis since 1999, distributing hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to starving families. The city put a stop to the ministry due to semi-trucks used to collect and distribute the food in the church’s parking lot. The church offered to use smaller, less efficient trucks but the city continued its attacks and threatened the pastor with criminal charges.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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