County Frowns on Presence of Megachurch
Last August, a county zoning administrator told commissioners they were “very happy” with proposed landscaping plans, noting that The Summit Church was “sensitive” to issues such as neighbors’ views. But then some commissioners began raising concerns about allowing a large church in that area.
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Karen Howard, then vice chair of the Board of Commissioners, said The Summit “seems like a really big, brand-new megachurch looking for a place to go” and “a really poor fit for what we are envisioning.” The Summit’s plans “feel like something that is antithetical to real rural character preservation,” she added.
Howard also objected to worshipers coming from outside the county, saying, “This definitely feels like a site that will accommodate overflow from somewhere else.”
Howard, now chair of the Board of Commissioners, said her reference to The Summit as a megachurch was “not a disparagement.” Instead, she clarified, “Chatham County is not a place to call home for that size of a church.”
The Summit Church called Howard’s size comment “troublesome,” especially considering the “sprawling commercial development” in the area. The church’s lawsuit noted that the county’s tax-related grounds for the zoning denial “would apply to almost any house of worship.”
The suit continued, “That denial’s inconsistency with policy, procedure, and historical practice, combined with its apparent application to houses of worship, provides compelling evidence of religious discrimination.”
Last October, the county’s Planning Board voted unanimously against recommending the zoning request. According to meeting minutes, one member of that board said, “A denial of rezoning based on lack of revenue could be discriminatory and a violation of the First Amendment.”
Some Neighbors Oppose Church Teachings
Traffic and tax issues aren’t the only concerns on people’s minds. During open-comment sessions, some county residents criticized teachings of The Summit itself. One person shared:
This county is known for its progressive, LGBTQ-friendly, and open-minded atmosphere, which is why many of us have chosen to call it home. Building a megachurch in this area runs contrary to these values, and many residents, including myself, are deeply concerned. A megachurch is not just a place of worship. It functions as a large-scale business, and it should be taxed and regulated as such.
