Homeowner Jailed for Hosting Bible Study

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

A Phoenix man who violated city zoning laws by hosting a Bible study in the privacy of his home has started serving a 60-day jail sentence for his crimes.

Michael Salman was found guilty in the City of Phoenix Court of 67 code violations. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail along with three years of probation and a $12,180 fine. A spokesperson for the city attorney confirmed that Salman reported to a county jail Monday afternoon.

Members of Salman’s Bible study group posted video of their teacher as he self-reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. It was an emotional scene.

“We believe that people should not be prohibiting other people from having Bible studies in their homes,” Salman said outside the jail. “We believe what they are doing is wrong. It’s private property. It’s our home.”

Salman embraced some of his Bible study members before offering final remarks.

“At the very end, after all is said and done, God will ultimately have glory in this,” he said. “We do this for the glory of the Lord.”

Someone off camera could be heard remarking, “I love you, pastor.”

Salman’s incarceration is the result of a long-running feud between the ordained pastor and the city of Phoenix over weekly Bible studies that Salman and his wife hosted in their home. City officials determined that the weekly gatherings constituted a church – and therefore violated a number of code regulations.

The controversy erupted in 2009 when nearly a dozen police officers raided the Salman’s home and a 2,000 square foot building in their backyard. The family had moved their Bible study into the building after the group outgrew their living room.

The charges that sent Salman to jail were a result of that raid – ranging from not posting exit lights above their doors – to not having handicap ramps or handicap parking.

Salman told Fox News Radio the attacks on his family were nothing more than a crackdown on religious liberty.

“They’re attacking what I – as a Christian – do in the privacy of my home,” he said. “At what point does the government have the right to state that you cannot have family and friends over at your home three times a week?”

But city officials said it was a matter of zoning and proper permitting – not religious freedom. They said he was given a permit to convert a garage into a game room – not a church.

“Any other occupancy or use – business, commercial, assembly, church, etc. is expressly prohibited pursuant to the city of Phoenix building code and ordinances,” said Vicki Hill, the chief assistant city prosecutor.

The irony of that rule was not lost on Salman.

“If I had people coming to my home on a regular basis for poker night or Monday Night Football, it would be permitted,” he said. “But when someone says to us we are not allowed to gather because of religious purposes – that is when you have discrimination.”

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council said the attack against Salman should serve as a wake-up call to Christians across the nation.

“Any time religious freedom or the freedom of speech is infringed upon, Americans should be concerned,” Perkins told Fox News Radio. “We are seeing jurisdictions using zoning ordinances to crack down the exercise of religious freedom.”

Perkins said there is a movement in recent years for churches to move back to an Early Church model where Christians met in private homes – rather than church facilities. As a result, he said some communities are in fact cracking down on what people do in the privacy of their homes.

“We’re seeing more Bible studies, home-based churches, small groups meeting together,” he said. “and people are not able to do with their own property that which is an exercise of their religious freedom.”

Perkins also took issue with the city of Phoenix deciding what constituted a church.

“The definition is nebulous,” he said. “A family of more than eight people who gather for prayer could meet the definition of a church.”

“It goes back to religious freedom,” Perkins said. “As long as it’s not posing a threat or a nuisance to the surrounding property owners, people should be free to do with their property as they see fit.”

Salman’s friends have launched an online petition urging that he be set free.

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[james&olya 1,121]

Jesus himself was reported to have said to render unto Caesar (government) that which is Caesar's! This homeowner is not in trouble for having bible studies but for having large groups of people meeting together in an un-safe building. These same people would probably be wanting to blame city officials if they allowed this to happen and there was a fire with large loss of life! I believe that churches have long gotten preferential treatment by government that should end. Write the laws so that any reference to churches or religion is taken out, have one set of rules that all must follow, whether it is some huge weekly poker game or whatever!

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Jesus himself was reported to have said to render unto Caesar (government) that which is Caesar's! This homeowner is not in trouble for having bible studies but for having large groups of people meeting together in an un-safe building. These same people would probably be wanting to blame city officials if they allowed this to happen and there was a fire with large loss of life! I believe that churches have long gotten preferential treatment by government that should end. Write the laws so that any reference to churches or religion is taken out, have one set of rules that all must follow, whether it is some huge weekly poker game or whatever!

Agree just because it is a church does not mean he does not have to follow the Zoning laws. In fact because he is a church he should set an example.

[X Factor 1,112]

Agree just because it is a church does not mean he does not have to follow the Zoning laws. In fact because he is a church he should set an example.

Very true. 60 days should give him enough time to reconsider his stance.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sounds like he had it coming, trying to hold church services out of his home and then denying it. Just the mere fact he's acting like it's an infringement of his religious freedom shows that he's a jacka$s.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Michael (or is that Micheal?) Salman has fought City Hall for three years -- and now he wants to join it.

Michael Salman can't seem to beat City Hall, and now hopes to be elected to it.

 

The Phoenix pastor has been fighting the city of Phoenix for three years over the right to hold worship services under a backyard structure he and his parishioners built. His home has been raided twice by authorities, including once this past March, and he faces 60 days in the klink for violating city codes relating to the structure.

Last month, he filed a federal complaint against the city.

The plucky pastor and ex-gangbanger (he once served time for a drive-by shooting) isn't content just to play defense. As we reported last month, he filed a federal complaint and requested a temporary restraining order against the city. A judge shot down the idea of a restraining order, but he's moving ahead with the lawsuit.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/05/michael_salman_in_fight_with_p.php

Edited July 11, 2012 by Mister Fancypants

[X Factor 1,112]

Sounds like he had it coming, trying to hold church services out of his home and then denying it. Just the mere fact he's acting like it's an infringement of his religious freedom shows that he's a jacka$s.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It sounds like an over zealous planning dept. I mean they should classify poker nights as "casinos", bbqs as "restaurants", monday night football as "cinema".

I wonder where this is truly coming from.

Michael (or is that Micheal?) Salman has fought City Hall for three years -- and now he wants to join it.

Michael Salman can't seem to beat City Hall, and now hopes to be elected to it.

 

The Phoenix pastor has been fighting the city of Phoenix for three years over the right to hold worship services under a backyard structure he and his parishioners built. His home has been raided twice by authorities, including once this past March, and he faces 60 days in the klink for violating city codes relating to the structure.

Last month, he filed a federal complaint against the city.

The plucky pastor and ex-gangbanger (he once served time for a drive-by shooting) isn't content just to play defense. As we reported last month, he filed a federal complaint and requested a temporary restraining order against the city. A judge shot down the idea of a restraining order, but he's moving ahead with the lawsuit.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/05/michael_salman_in_fight_with_p.php

Ah just read this. Okay these aren't exactly "bible studies" are they.

[Captain Oates 911]

I do struggle with the expression "gang bang"

In the UK it refers to when a woman has sex with several men at that same time

Well, not at the same time literally, but certainly on the same occasion

As in the gary glitter line "I'm the man who put the bang in gang" (Leader of the Gang)

In the US it refers to a shooter on behalf of a gang

The UK version is much more interesting

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

In the US it refers to a shooter on behalf of a gang

must be an alternative definition then. usually it's the same as the uk definition.

Edited July 11, 2012 by charles!

[Captain Oates 911]

must be an alternative definition then. usually it's the same as the uk definition.

Interesting

I only have 2 cats and cable telly in my life so it must be a CNN or crime channel thing

They are forever referring to a assassins as gang bangers as does post #6 above

perhaps it's sausages sold by gangs - that would make sense - gang bangers and mash

Edited July 11, 2012 by Ashud Cocoa