IN-DEPTH: Home Church Pastor Says Constitutional Right Violated After City Issued Cease-and-Desist

‘Just because this is a zoning issue doesn’t mean it’s not a violation of our First Amendment right.’

Inside of Martin Bownik's home church in Minnesota. Courtesy of Martin Bownik

A pastor of a home-based church in Rogers, Minnesota, is facing a city government cease-and-desist order after a complaint was allegedly filed by a neighbor.

According to the Minnesota-based Alpha News publication that obtained a copy of the letter sent by the city of Rogers Development Director Brett Angell, the pastor for The Edge Christian Fellowship, Martin Bownik, is violating a zoning ordinance stating that “religious assembly is a principal use within the zoning district for your property and not allowed accessory use.”