All it takes is one or two motivated individuals for a lawsuit to arrive, said Jeremiah Galus, an attorney at Alliance Defending Freedom. “We know there are those out there that aren’t happy that churches are exempted from these laws.”
Worries about accusations of discrimination are already complicating some church efforts to build bridges with communities.
At Broadman Baptist, a church committee is re-evaluating whether to continue allowing the board members of a condo complex across the street to meet in the church fellowship hall for a fee of $50. McCombs is concerned that by renting the hall to community groups for nonreligious purposes, a same-sex couple might argue it also has a right to the space. At the same time, he’s frustrated, because he wants his church to have open arms to the neighborhood....