by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, USA (Worthy News) – Authorities in the most populous county of the United States have banned meetings of Church on the Beach, which had been holding public beach services for nearly two decades.
The decision by Los Angeles County has been challenged by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). “For 18 years, Church on the Beach has been faithfully serving its community by holding worship services on Redondo Beach with proper permits from Los Angeles County,” the advocacy group said in a statement obtained by Worthy News on Tuesday.
“Approximately 120 people gather every Sunday morning to worship in God’s creation, with many attendees specifically choosing this setting because they have had difficult or negative experiences in traditional church buildings,” the ACLJ added.
The group said its legal team sent a detailed demand letter to officials, outlining the “constitutional violations” of singling out one organization because of its viewpoint and discriminating against members.
“Our letter made it clear that the county’s actions violate well-established First Amendment principles as articulated by the Supreme Court in cases like Widmar v. Vincent and Lamb’s Chapel.”
The ACLJ warned that it had given Los Angeles County “until March 20, 2025, to provide assurances that this discriminatory policy will be ended and that churches will be free to use the beach under the same generally applicable rules as nonreligious gatherings.”
NO PERMITS
Yet the Department of Beaches and Harbors recently told the Church on the Beach that it would no longer issue yearly permits for “religious activities,” Worthy News learned.
Instead, the county reportedly announced that “grandfathered” groups would be allowed only six annual events, with $250 permit fees required for four.
It also is restricting the meetings to specific locations.
“The key fact: None of these rules apply to nonreligious groups. Even more concerning, a county official told the pastor that churches ‘don’t need the beach’ because they can ‘meet in a building’ – a statement that demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both religious freedom and the specific ministry of Church on the Beach,” the ACLJ complained.
The Church on the Beach views its mission as reaching at least some of the county’s nearly 9.7 million people with the Gospel who may otherwise not attend worship services.
The ACLJ added that the “beach location isn’t merely a preference – it’s a crucial component of their ministry’s outreach to those who might never step foot in a conventional church.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Andy Burnham became Britain’s new prime minister on Monday, replacing Keir Starmer after a Labour Party revolt and vowing a tougher approach toward Israel as part of an agenda that also includes sweeping economic reforms and devolving power from Westminster.
A gallon of regular gasoline in the United States climbed to about $4 and benchmark Brent crude rose above $90 a barrel Monday, further fueling a global energy crisis after the United States launched fresh airstrikes against Iran following the death of another American service member, while Tehran executed at least two more anti-government protesters.
Spain’s celebrations after winning the FIFA World Cup in the United States were overshadowed Monday by deadly wildfires that continued to rage across large parts of the country.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar says he will ask legendary chess grandmaster Judit Polgár to become Hungary’s next president.
The United States unleashed another three-hour wave of strikes against Iranian military targets Sunday evening, marking the ninth consecutive night of American attacks as the Pentagon seeks to cripple Tehran’s ability to threaten international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel has begun preparations for the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ, a major Christian milestone expected to draw millions of pilgrims to the Holy Land in 2030.
Powerful flash floods have swept away churches, damaged schools and homes, and severed vital transportation routes in a remote border region of northeastern India.