(Christian Headlines) A federal judge handed a Washington, D.C. church a major religious liberty victory Friday, ruling it could gather outdoors for worship services during the pandemic in spite of city restrictions.
At issue were restrictions by the city and Mayor Muriel Bowser that ban religious gatherings larger than 100 individuals, even if they are held outside.
Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC), which had around 1,000 attendees each Sunday prior to the pandemic, sued the city and asserted the restrictions violated its rights under the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a 1993 law. Its pastor is Mark Dever, a well-known author and speaker.