The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a religious group that has enforced the closure of beaches in Ocean Grove, New Jersey on Sunday mornings, may be ending this practice which has gone on for decades.
The group has removed the rule restriction from its website in the wake of a court case with the state of New Jersey that could leverage fines against the group to the tune of $25,000 per day.
Ocean Grove’s History
Ocean Grove was founded in 1869 as a Methodist retreat to hold services for Christians who would come to worship during the summer.
In 1870, the beach and land under the houses of Ocean Grove were given to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which allowed them to enforce rules like restricting beach access on Sundays in accordance with Christian religious considerations.
State Challenge
Recently the state of New Jersey has challenged the ability of the association to enforce these rules under the grounds that it is violating state beach access laws by keeping people away.
State officials sent a notice of violation to the association in September demanding they comply with demands to stop blocking beach access within 10 days.
Court Case
The notice of violation kicked off a dispute between the association and the state of New Jersey which culminated in a hearing in April where the two parties would have gone to battle over the issue, but the hearing was delayed until May.
Now it seems with the removal of the rule from The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association website, the state might get its way.
Residents Divided
This issue has been a contentious one for people who live near the area and its beach, colloquially referred to as “God’s Square Mile at the Jersey Shore.”
Non-Christian residents feel that the religious-inspired rule is unfair to them, while other residents like that the community holds to its traditions.
Not What America is About
Paul Martin, a homeowner in Ocean Grove since 2003 who identifies as Jewish, expressed his dissatisfaction with the beach rules to the Associated Press.
“We just feel that’s wrong, that it’s not what America is supposed to be about, and it makes living here very uncomfortable when you’re gay, when you’re Jewish, an atheist or agnostic,” Martin said.
Right to Live Here Too
Resident Aliza Greenblatt, who is also Jewish and married to Paul Martin, emphasized that they aren’t hateful of Christians but they feel like church and state should stay seperate.
“We have the right to live here, too,” said Greenblatt. “We’re not anti-Christian. We just want the line between church and state to be respected.”
Defying the Rules
Greenblatt and her husband were part of a group of residents who sought to defy the association’s rules and go onto the beach during Sunday morning hours.
In an incident last year, the association reportedly called on the police to remove them, but once they arrived the officers did not intervene on the beach crashers.
Separation of Church and State
At the heart of this dispute is an argument over the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Consitution which demands a so-called “separation between church and state.”
After the U.S. Supreme Court case Lemon v. Kurtzman in 1971, there is a three-step “lemon” test to determine what constitutes an establishment of religion. The government is not allowed to assist religion if it doing so to promote or inhibit the religion or create an entanglement between church and state.
Freedom of Religion
Another part of the First Amendment guarantees protection for freedom of religion. In court filings, the association has accused the state of violating its right to freedom of religion and asserts it is trying to impose state force on private property.
Supporters of the beach rule argue that the Christian faith and the area of Ocean Grove are already entangled, and separating them at this point violates religious freedom.
God’s Place
Some residents are happy with the restrictions, which allows them to enjoy their Sunday mornings in peace.
“Ocean Grove is God’s place,” said Mary Martin, an 87-year-old retired teacher who moved here from northern New Jersey in 1960. “I love it here. I love the Bible hour six days a week, great speakers, great singing, great fellowship, great joy, everyone welcome.”
Giving In
Rule supporters also feel that it’s unfair for others to change things now after such a long time.
“It’s like when someone moves above a bar that’s been a bar for 170 years, and then sues it for being a bar,” said Neil Ostrander, who has a part-time job with the association.
