Maryland Church Reaches $140K Settlement with Town

The town of Elkton has reached a settlement with a church that operates a day center for the homeless.

The church, Meeting Ground, sued the town last year, saying it was hindering the church and its members from practicing their faith. Elkton’s zoning board had classified the day center as a philanthropic enterprise and barred the church from using the property.

A federal judge granted an injunction against the town in October 2008 that paved the way for the day center to open earlier this year. The ACLU, which represented Meeting Ground, says relations between the town and the church improved from that point, leading to the settlement.

Elkton will pay $140,000 to Meeting Ground to offset the money it lost when it couldn’t use the property, as well as attorneys’ fees and court costs.