People have been asking, “What’s going on? We thought the case was over and done with when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear our appeal in December of 2011…” We thought so too–but by a stroke of God’s sovereign hand, our case was reopened in Federal District Court thanks, in part, to a new Supreme Court ruling in January of this year.
Judge Preska also ruled in our favor denying a motion by the city to stay the injunction pending appeal. Had this stay been granted, this would have meant that, even though there was a favorable ruling, all of the churches would have had to vacate the schools until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, ruled on the appeal. This would have been a very awkward and difficult situation for all of us, not to mention it being mean spirited.
Yes, the city is appealing the decision to the Second Circuit. Oral arguments will be presented on November 19th, and then we will wait for a ruling. Please continue to pray for this very important matter, the implications of which stretch beyond what is happening in our general culture with its increasingly visible hostility to the historic Christian faith.