Church camp sparks law suit

Peninsula News Network

12/8/04

Clallam County, WA - A local church’s fight to open a controversial youth camp on its property has turned into a full-scale legal battle over freedom of religion.

Last year, the King’s Way Foursquare Church filed a revised application to build its Camp Kingsway operation on the church property along Kitchen-Dick Road.

Neighbors fought the project, saying the multiple buildings and noise generated from the camp weren’t appropriate for a rural neighborhood.

The county ultimately approved the project, but with limits on the number of people and hours of operation. At the time, church leaders made noise about those limits possibly being a violation of freedom of religion.

Now, the church has filed a suit against the county to that effect. Pastor Mike VanProyen tells the Sequim Gazette the county’s restrictions puts a “substantial burden” on the church’s freedom of religion and says the rules limit “the church’s ability to teach the Gospel to children”.

The suit is being filed in Jefferson County Superior Court.

RELATED STORY

Church files civil rights suit against Clallam County

December 8th, 2004 - 8:28am

KONP News

(Sequim) -- The rejection by county officials of a religious-based youth camp is causing the church sponsoring the camp to file a civil rights lawsuit. Kings Way Foursquare Church on Kitchen-Dick Road is bringing the suit against the county, alleging restrictions placed on developing the camp on church property limits "the church¹s ability to teach the Gospel to children," according to pastor Mike VanProyen. County commissioners voted 2-1, with commissioner Mike Chapman, R-Port Angles, opposing the move, to impose a limit of 159 camp residents, no RV parking and less operational hours than the church wanted, according to VanProyen. His group wants to house up to 350 youth at the camp and offer more than the county is opting to allow. "We have no choice because the county has put a substantial burden on our exercise of religion," noted VanProyen, who added the lawsuit is being filed in Jefferson County. He said legal staff recommended going to Jefferson County for the suit. County commissioners were unavailable for comment.

the move, to impose a limit of 159 camp residents, no RV parking and less operational hours than the church wanted, according to VanProyen. His group wants to house up to 350 youth at the camp and offer more than the county is opting to allow. "We have no choice because the county has put a substantial burden on our exercise of religion," noted VanProyen, who added the lawsuit is being filed in Jefferson County. He said legal staff recommended going to Jefferson County for the suit. County commissioners were unavailable for comment.

RELATED STORY:

Church sues county over youth camp flap

Sequim Gazette

10/8/04

The rejection by county officials of a religious-based youth camp is causing the church sponsoring the camp to file a civil rights lawsuit. King's Way Foursquare Church on Kitchen-Dick Road is bringing the suit against the county, alleging restrictions placed on developing the camp on church property limits "the church's ability to teach the Gospel to children," according to pastor Mike VanProyen.
County commissioners voted to impose a limit of 159 camp residents, no RV parking and less operational hours than the church wanted, according to VanProyen. His group wants to house up to 350 youth at the camp and offer more than the county is opting to allow.
"We have no choice because the county has put a substantial burden on our exercise of religion," noted VanProyen, who added the lawsuit is being filed in Jefferson County. He said legal staff recommended going to Jefferson County for the suit.