Federal Lawsuit Filed to Protect Teen Challenge

Our office in Nashville, TN, led by Senior Counsel Larry Crain, has filed a federal cause of action on behalf of Teen Challenge ministry. Teen Challenge is a well-known and well-respected ministry that serves hundreds of young people and helps them break free from destructive cycles of addiction through a disciplined program of rehabilitation with a serious Christian component.  The program is based on the belief that a lasting solution to these problems can only be found in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Teen Challenge is operated for purely religious reasons to minister to the needs of those who struggle with an addiction.

In Tennessee, Teen Challenge had entered into a contract to purchase 13 acres of property in Davidson County in order to further expand its mission.  Teen Challenge planned to use the property to provide residential rehabilitation therapy to disabled male and female residents, who would be housed in separate buildings.   Actual property zoning allowed for rehabilitative services in that it was a permitted use at the time Teen Challenge purchased the property.  Initially, the City Councilman in charge of the district was in favor of Teen Challenge operating at this location.

A public meeting on the use of the property became a dissentious, mob-like atmosphere in which residents yelled out angry and sarcastic attacks. One resident stated, We dont want any drug addicts or sex offenders walking our streets.  This, despite the fact that the property was located on 13 acres and Teen Challenges method was to make sure that those in the rehabilitative program do not in any way interfere with the surrounding community.  This is precisely the reason why they have such large acreage requests. 

After a series of meetings, city officials took actions that were designed and intended to block and impede Teen Challenge from acquiring a Use and Occupancy Permit to conduct its religious activities and to provide therapeutic services to disabled individuals on the property.  After several attempts to work the situation through to a resolution, it became evident that a legal challenge would have to be made.  Our Senior Counsel Larry Crain is one of the best litigators in the United States, and he had undertaken representation of this case along with our Associate Counsel Clayton Wood.  Both Larry and Clayton work out of Nashville, TN, where this case is filed. 

The governments action in denying the Teen Challenge application was motivated out of a discriminatory animus and was deliberately intended to permanently prevent Teen Challenge from using the property for its standard religious purposes as a residential treatment facility.  The hostility towards the Teen Challenge ministry became evident at a meeting that took place on February 6, 2007.  In front of several African-American members of the Teen Challenge staff, a city councilman stated, I dont care what you call it.  If you want to call it a group home, half-way house, rehabilitation services, they always told me that if it walks like a monkey, it swings from a tree like a monkey, its gonna be a monkey.  The employees of Teen Challenge, obviously, were deeply offended by these hurtful comments from the councilman.  Federal litigation has ensued, and we will keep you posted as this case develops.