Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333

BOLINGBROOK, Ill., April 11, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church of Bolingbrook a predominantly African American congregation is presenting an emergency motion before Federal Judge Harry D. Leinenweber set for April 12th in a lawsuit against the Village of Bolingbrook, asserting that the Village is discriminating against them in their effort to establish a permanent location for their congregation. Mayor Roger Claar and the Village are opposing the establishment of the church in a shopping mall where another church is freely operating. The suit asserts the mayor has also made demands on this church that he and the Village have not made on other churches. Liberty church views Mayor Claar's position as discriminatory against First Amendment rights.

John Mauck, Attorney for Liberty Temple stated, "Bolingbrook's extreme and illegal position to keep this congregation out – demanding they obtain a 'Special Use Permit' even though the Village zoning code has no such requirement, smells like abuse of power. Rubbing acid in church's wound, Bolingbrook slapped 'No Occupancy' signs on space that the church has rented and has refused to process a routine building permit application based upon their illegal assertion that the shopping center is not in a B-4 zone. Seems like the mayor and some municipal officials have decided that civil rights will not be protected in Bolingbrook."

Apostle Clifford E. Turner, founder of six Liberty Temple congregations, stated, "We are in Bolingbrook because God has directed me to develop a Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church here. I had no idea of the resistance that I would encounter from Mayor Roger Claar and his administration. I am committed to the task of planting this church in Bolingbrook and I am confident that God and the US Constitution will have their way with or without Mayor Claar."

Mayor Claar and his administration deny that the zoning regulations permit Liberty Temple to establish a church in the Bolingbrook Commons Mall even though churches are explicitly permitted in the B-4 zone. Ironically, The International House of Prayer, also a religious organization, currently occupies space in the same complex as where Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church is renting space.

The complaint is available here. For additional supporting documents or to schedule an interview, please contact Tom Ciesielka at 312-422-1333 or at tc@tcpr.net.