Florida Church Challenges Court Ruling on Worship Services
A church in Florida is contesting a court decision that prohibits it from holding in-person worship services. This case raises important questions about religious freedom and property rights.
The conflict revolves around a property in a strip mall, which Pastor Roderick Palmer acquired in 2025 to establish Coastal Family Church in Flagler Beach. However, the tenant association asserts that its regulations prevent the space from being used for worship or large gatherings. The church occupies a spot next to Dollar Tree in a shopping area labeled “Flagler Square.”
The tenant association took legal action, and recently, Judge Sandra Upchurch ruled in favor of the shopping center’s real estate association, effectively barring the church from conducting in-person services. Upchurch determined that the shopping center’s bylaws explicitly prohibit public gatherings.
Yet, Pastor Palmer’s supporters argue that Florida law protects the church’s right to hold services. “Rev. Roderick Palmer and Coastal Family Church have the right to worship on church property,” argued Matt Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel. He added that the association should not discriminate against the church while allowing other secular events to continue.
Staver remarked, “This unnecessary lawsuit should be dismissed.” In her ruling, Upchurch noted that when Palmer bought the property, there were already “restrictive covenants” that explicitly banned the operation of venues for public gatherings, such as banquets and auditoriums.
However, the attorneys representing the church maintain that federal and state laws safeguard their rights. According to Liberty Counsel, the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act prevents the government from placing significant burdens on religious practices unless there is a compelling governmental reason.
“No pastor or church in the U.S. should have to choose between worship and legal penalties,” they stated. This court order, they believe, places an unreasonable burden on Coastal Family Church, effectively shutting it down as long as the lawsuit is ongoing.
