Editing Ocean Grove, New Jersey (section)

===Civil union controversy===
In 2007, two lesbian couples asked to have their civil union ceremonies at the OGCMA's Boardwalk Pavilion. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', "the couples' requests were rejected, and they complained to the state's Division on Civil Rights, which began a discrimination investigation."<ref name=rebirth>{{cite news |last=Capuzzo |first=Jill |title=Civil Union Dispute Pits Methodist Retreat Against Gays Who Aided in Its Rebirth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/03/nyregion/03ocean.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 3, 2007}}</ref> The complaint stated that [[Scott Rasmussen]], on behalf of the OGCMA, informed the couple it would not permit them to use the OGCMA's facilities for a civil union.<ref name=Schwebber>{{cite news |last=Schwebber |first=Nate |title=The Week in New Jersey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/24weeknj.html |access-date=December 19, 2013 |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 24, 2007}}</ref> In 2008, the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights found that there was probable cause to credit one of the two couples' complaints, but rejected the other.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fleming |first=James |title=Ordered Liberty: Rights, Responsibilities, and Virtues |year=2013 |publisher=Harvard University Press |page=323 |author2=McLain, Linda}}</ref><ref>Spoto, MaryAnn. [https://www.nj.com/news/2008/12/judge_rules_monmouth_church_gr.html "State sides with lesbian couple in fight against Ocean Grove association"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], December 30, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2022. "The state Division on Civil Rights ruled Sunday a lesbian couple can move forward with a discrimination complaint against Ocean Grove for refusing to let them use an oceanfront pavilion for a civil union."</ref>

In an attempt to halt the state's investigation, the OGCMA filed a federal suit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Capuzzo |first=Jill |title=Church Group Complains of Civil Union Pressure |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/nyregion/14civil.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 14, 2007}}</ref> In the suit, the OGCMA wrote that it would be "thrust into government compelled expressive association with those who promote same-sex 'civil unions'" if it is forced to allow them at its facilities, and "such forced association would severely compromise the Association's desire to communicate to the general public a message consistent with its religious views on marriage and family." The OGCMA's motion was dismissed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Mary Pat |title=U.S. Court Won't Hear Suit by Church That Barred Same-Sex Ceremonies |url=http://www.nownj.org/njNews/2007/1108%20U.S.%20Court%20Won%27t%20Hear%20Suit%20by%20Church%20That%20Barred%20Same-Sex%20Ceremonies.htm |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=National Organization for Women of New Jersey |date=November 8, 2007}}</ref>

Complicating the dispute over civil unions was the fact that Ocean Grove's boardwalk and beachfront were held in a 1908 ruling to be exempt from property tax because they "had been dedicated years ago by the association as a public highway."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sagara |first=Eric |title=Ocean Grove boardwalk appeal for FEMA aid denied |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/ocean_grove_boardwalk_appeal_f.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=June 1, 2013}}</ref> The Boardwalk Pavilion lost its tax-exempt status in 2007 because the state ruled that it no longer met the requirements as a place open to all members of the public. From 1989 until the Pavilion lost its tax-exempt status, the OGCMA had received $500,000 in annual tax breaks through the state's Green Acres program. The boardwalk and beach remain tax-exempt.<ref name=taxbreak>Capuzzo, Jill P. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/nyregion/18grove.html "Group Loses Tax Break Over Gay Union Issue"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 18, 2007. Accessed August 28, 2022. "A boardwalk pavilion in the seaside town of Ocean Grove, N.J., that has been at the center of a battle over gay civil union ceremonies has lost its tax-exempt status because the state ruled it no longer met the requirements as a place open to all members of the public."</ref>

On January 12, 2012, Administrative Law Judge Solomon Metzger ruled that the Camp Meeting had violated the state's law against discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |last=LaPlaca |first=Charlie |title=Judge: Ocean Grove Church Violated Law by Preventing Civil Union |url=http://manasquan.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/judge-ocean-grove-church-violated-law-by-preventing-civil-union |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131230033934/http://manasquan.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/judge-ocean-grove-church-violated-law-by-preventing-civil-union |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=Manasquan-Belmar Patch |date=January 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Judge Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couple in Discrimination Case |url=http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/2012/01/13/judge-rules-in-favor-of-same-sex-couple-in-discrimination-case/ |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=American Civil Liberties Union |date=January 13, 2012}}</ref> The OGCMA discontinued use of the pavilion for weddings for the general public after the controversy started.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spahr |first=Rob |title=Lesbian couple discriminated against by Ocean Grove association, state says |url=http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2012/10/lesbian_couple_discriminated_against_by_ocean_grove_association_state_says.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=NJ.com |date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> While the Association reports that it no longer offers any of its property to the general public as wedding venues, they have a process in place that grants use on an exception basis, provided the couple meets additional criteria.