SAN DIEGO — San Diego officials have apologized and rescinded a cease-and-desist order after a pastor and his wife were told they would have to apply for a permit that could cost thousands of dollars to continue hosting a small Bible study in their home.
“On Good Friday, we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly and in violation of the code in the county,” said David Jones, pastor of South Bay Community Church in National City, Calif.
According to its Web site, the church draws individuals from various ethnic backgrounds for an average attendance of 250 on Sundays. But it was the home Bible study that drew the county’s ire.
In a June 3 letter to the Joneses and Dean Broyles, an attorney for the couple, the county’s chief administrative officer said the order was wrongfully issued and the county would conduct a review of its code enforcement officer training. “Christians should not be punished simply for holding a Bible study in their homes, so we are very encouraged by the county’s response and their commitment to immediate corrective action,” Broyles said.
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