In Alive Church of the Nazarene, Inc. v. Prince William County, Virginia, (ED VA, Nov. 10, 2021), a Virginia federal district court dismissed a suit brought by a church that sought to use its property for religious gatherings even though it could not yet afford to comply with conditions of its special use permit. The church was presently using space elsewhere in a farm winery/ brewery for religious services. It attempted to circumvent the special use permit requirements by obtaining approval to grow fruit trees and make non-alcoholic apple cider on its own property. However zoning authorities said that structures not associated with that agricultural use were not permitted, and that use of present structures for events such as wedding receptions would be allowed only if the church obtained a liquor license-- which the church refused to do because of its opposition to alcohol. The court rejected the church's RLUIPA, Free Exercise, Freedom of Assembly and Equal Protection challenges.
