Coastal Family Church in Flagler Beach, Florida, which had been sued and barred from conducting worship services on its property, has been granted permission by a state appeals court to resume services until the lawsuit ends.
The Jan. 30 ruling from the state’s Fifth District Court of Appeal nullifies a lower state court’s decision to place the church under an injunction.
The lawsuit was instigated by Flagler Square—JAX, Inc., a condominium association managing the four units of Flagler Square, an outdoor mall. The complaint was filed in August 2025, the month after Pastor Roderick Palmer of Coastal Family Church purchased a section of the mall for the church. The suit against the church alleged that the congregation’s “public assemblies” violated a “condominium declaration” and that the church “would overwhelm available parking at all times.”
Although the church was given a city-issued zoning exception, a state court sided with the association on Jan. 23, and the church moved its Jan. 25 Sunday service online.
During the time which the church would have met in person, a Flagler Square—JAX, Inc. representative arrived with three police vehicles to ensure the injunction was followed.
Legal firm Liberty Counsel filed an Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Review on behalf of the church with the Florida Fifth District Appeals Court. The firm is arguing that over 160 parking spots have been available during church services, and that the condominium covenant barring assembles violates the church’s First Amendment rights and rights under several Florida laws, including the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Liberty Counsel also argued that the covenant is subject to the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and the covenant is ambiguous, and selectively enforced. The declaration prohibits discount stores, banquet halls and bingo parlors. Yet, a consignment store operates in Flagler Square, and bingo gatherings are habitually hosted by a Fraternal Order of Police lodge. The group also rents their property for other public assemblies.
Granting Liberty Counsel’s petition, the Fifth District Court of Appeal noted that if the injunction were found to have violated the Constitution, the legal and actual harm would be “grievous.”
“If this Court determines the temporary injunction before us was erroneously issued,” the court document reads, “the legal and actual harm of being prohibited the right to assemble together and freely exercise their sincerely held religious beliefs would be grievous and reach constitutional dimension. Being deprived of this fundamental right–for even one additional Sunday — would do irreparable harm to Appellant and its congregants.”
Coastal Family Church posted an update, stating, “Great news, Coastal Family!!! We’re back to regular worship gatherings in our building THIS Sunday! Thank you for your prayers and unity. As we return, please continue to be respectful of neighboring businesses and shared parking areas so we can be a blessing to our community.”
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, said that the legal firm is “grateful for the court’s quick ruling pending appeal.”
“The Fifth District Court of Appeal’s stay on this injunction will allow Coastal Family Church to meet for worship this Sunday and continuing until a final decision,” said Staver. “Being deprived of religious liberty involving worship is an irreparable harm. Coastal Family Church was unconstitutionally forced to choose between cancelling worship services or be in contempt of court. Every Sunday a church is forced to close its doors inflicts irreparable spiritual and constitutional injury on its congregation.”
