Ocean Grove United - News

Working for Civil Rights for All Ocean Grove Residents

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Sign the Motion - Help us overturn the ban on same-sex unions in the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion

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News

Click on the links below to see the related news story regarding the boardwalk pavilion controversy. (PLEASE NOTE! These are external links to outside news-sources who may periodically move or delete files on their websites.)

National Public Radio (NPR 6/19/08)

$20K tax bill for the Pavillion (Asbury Park Press 2/23/08)

Civil-union probe continues (Asbury Park Press 1/10/08)

UPDATE: Allegations against Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association can be probed, judge rules (Asbury Park Press 11/08/07)

State can keep probing ban on gay unions at Ocean Grove (NJ.com 11/08/07)

Civil union talks end with no deal (Asbury Park Press 10/23/07)

On the Boardwalk (The Wall Street Journal 10/12/07)

Civil rights probe can proceed (Asbury Park Press 10/5/07)

Group Loses Tax Break Over Gay Union Issue (The New York Times 9/18/07)

No tax break for boardwalk pavilion (Asbury Park Press 9/18/07)

Dispute on gay unions could cost group (Star-Ledger 9/18/07)

Ocean Grove camp group says its reviewing state decision (Asbury Park Press 9/17/07)

Unfurling their rainbow (Star-Ledger 9/17/07)

Cermony Held on Fishing Pier (Asbury Park Press 9/17/07)

Ocean Grove Wants It Both Ways (Star-Ledger 9/6/07)

Gays welcome, if they know their place (Star-Ledger 9/7/07)

Group: Look at tax status (Asbury Park Press 9/7/07)

Civil Union Ceremony Prohibition Draws Ire (The Coaster 9/6/07)

Ocean Grove grabs spotlight (Asbury Park Press 9/6/07)

Hundreds protest ban on civil unions (Asbury Park Press 9/4/07)

Free speech cry could cost Ocean Grove state funding (Asbury Park Press 8/31/07)

Civil Union Dispute Pits Methodist Retreat Against Gays Who Aided in Its Rebirth (New York Times 8/30/07)

Judge may rule Oct. 1 on gay union motions (Asbury Park Press 8/29/07)

Response period allowed in Ocean Grove bias case (Star-Ledger 8/29/07)

U.S. court asked to drop Ocean Grove bias suit (Star-Ledger 8/28/07)

N.J. seeks dismissal of federal court suit (Asbury Park Press 8/28/07)

Lawsuit focuses attention on Grove (Asbury Park Press 8/19/07)

Bias on the boardwalk (Star-Ledger 8/19/07)

In Ocean Grove, a dignified dispute over civil unions (Star-Ledger 8/16/07)

Crowd wants same-sex ban lifted (Asbury Park Press 8/15/05)

Civil unions fight brewing in Ocean Grove (Star-Ledger 8/15/07)

Church Group Complains of Civil Union Pressure (The New York Times 8/14/07)

Church Group Sues Over Same-Sex Civil Union Ceremony (Asbury Park Press 8/14/07)

Methodist Group Files Lawsuit on Civil Unions (The Star-Ledger 8/14/07)

Ocean Grove United Forms (Ocean Grove Record 8/3/07)

Ocean Grove Residents Urge Camp Meeting to Schedule Meeting on Civil Union Issue (The Coaster 8/1/07)

Ocean Grove Agrees to Mediation Over Civil Union Ban (Asbury Park Press 1/16/07)

Ocean Grove Will Try to Mediate Civil Union Complaints (The Star-Ledger 7/16/07

Editorial: Boardwalk Pavilion Controversy (New Jersey Lawyer Online 7/06/07)

New Deadline for Civil Rights Complaint (Asbury Park Press 7/05/

Legal Battle (FOX News - Video 6/27/07)

Meeting to Discuss Civil Unions in Ocean Grove (The Coaster 6/27/07)

Civil Union Denial Spurs Bias Claim in Ocean Grove (Asbury Park Press 6/21/07)

Ocean Grove Civil Union Ban (The New York Times 6/21/07)

Methodist-Owned Ocean Grove Tests Reach of Civil Union Law (The Star-Ledger 6/20/07)

Ocean Grove Civil Union Ban Violates Law (StevenHyland.com 5/10/07)

Ban Discrimination in Pavilion (OceanGroveRecord.com)

End Ban on Civil Unions on Ocean Grove's Public Boardwalk (Garden State Equality)

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"Same-sex civil union ceremonies should be allowed in the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion. This is a civil rights issue and not about gays or lesbians. It's about the rights of individuals to be full members of all of their communities."

Randy Bishop
Mayor
Neptune Township

"The Camp Meeting Association receives federal services and funds. Therefore, they don't have any right to be exclusionary. I don't believe they have a leg to stand on legally with this case. They have to reverse this decision."

Frank Pallone, Jr.
U.S. Congressman
6th District of NJ

"The Camp Meeting Association's policy of discrimination against gays and lesbians wishing to hold their civil unions in the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion is shameful. It is a violation of civil rights and an affront to all members of the community and to justice and equality. This policy does not reflect the Ocean Grove community that we know and love."

Mary Beth Jahn
Committeewoman
Neptune Township

"Why are some kinds of prejudice acceptable? Would Ocean Grove forbid African-Americans or Asians or people with handicapping conditions from use of the pavilion? Of course not. To forbid gays and lesbians use of this space is not only illegal, it's ethically wrong."

Reverend Julie Parker
Ordained Minister
United Methodist Church

"Not only does this blatant and plainly unchristian policy of discrimination fly in the face of the biblical prophets' passion for social justice, but it is clearly contrary, it seems to me, to the open-hearted, inclusive spirit of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism."

Reverend David Parker
Retired Minister
United Methodist Church

"Discrimination and prejudice are never acceptable-but they are especially disturbing when they come covered by a veneer of religiosity. Since the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion serves all people and is in no sense 'a church,' same-sex civil unions should be permitted the same way that weddings have been allowed."

Reverend Robert Kriesat
Retired Lutheran Minister
Vice Chair of Garden State Equality

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