News Release
For Immediate Release: 8.21.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
California City Agrees to Settlement with Chinese- and Taiwanese-American Church
Church filed federal lawsuit when City of Santa Ana prevented it from using its facility for religious services.
Santa Ana, CA—The City of Santa Ana, California and Anchor Stone Christian Church reached a settlement of a lawsuit allowing the local congregation to use its facilities for religious services. The city also agreed to pay Anchor Stone $640,000, waive certain fees, and expedite approvals and permits necessary for the church to use its building. First Liberty Institute and the law firm O’Melveny & Myers represent Anchor Stone.
“Anchor Stone Church simply wants to be able to use its property as always planned: as a church,” said Ryan Gardner, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “We are grateful that the city’s agreement will ensure that the church can proceed with remodeling the facility it needs to serve the community.”
Timothy Durst, partner at O’Melveny & Myers said, “The First Amendment and federal law protect the right of churches to operate free from unreasonable and intrusive government interference. The Court’s preliminary injunction and now this settlement unshackle Anchor Stone to move forward with the long-planned next steps for their congregation. We appreciate the willingness of the city lawyers and staff to work with us in settling this dispute.”
Anchor Stone is a Chinese- and Taiwanese-American Christian church that endeavors to spread the gospel to others in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County. Since its inception in 2018, the church has grown from an in-home prayer group to a 50-member congregation needing additional space. With assurance from the city that there would be no obstacles for using the property they intended to purchase for religious assembly, the church proceeded with the purchase. It was only after closing on the property that the city voiced objection and rejected Anchor Stone’s permit application. Since the denial, the property sat vacant for two years and the church had been unable to renovate or hold worship services in it. In April, a federal court granted the church a preliminary injunction against the city’s actions that had prevented Anchor Stone from using its property as a church.
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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 John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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