LeoS1 (Florida)
Posts: 17
Posts: 17
Posted:
Does Florida Statue 720 prohibt religious events shuch as a bible study to be held at an Association Clubhouse?
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Florida HOA - bible studies
Started by LeoS1 • 8 replies • 2689 views
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DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posts: 5,671
Posted:
Leo,
NO! it does not. Remember a couple of years ago when a group of owners from Pt. St Lucie were using their clubhouse on Sunday mornings and a bunch of other owners got their shorts all in a bumch? It went to mediation and the Sunday services continued.
BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820
Posts: 2,820
Posted:
given that statute 720 is huge, i only glanced at portions of it, but what i saw gave no indication that it makes it illegal to do so. the relevent portion of the statute i found seems to imply that unless the board has a list of reasonable uses that prohibit such, then there's not much way to stop such a meeting.
720.304 Right of owners to peaceably assemble; display of flag; SLAPP suits prohibited.--
(1) All common areas and recreational facilities serving any homeowners' association shall be available to parcel owners in the homeowners' association served thereby and their invited guests for the use intended for such common areas and recreational facilities. The entity or entities responsible for the operation of the common areas and recreational facilities may adopt reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the use of such common areas and recreational facilities. No entity or entities shall unreasonably restrict any parcel owner's right to peaceably assemble or right to invite public officers or candidates for public office to appear and speak in common areas and recreational facilities.
One thing to be careful of with ANY allowance is that when you begin to allow one person to do X, be prepared to allow someone else to do X as well. So, if you allow a group to meet to do bible study, you should allow a group to meet to do geneology study too, for example... or you better have a good reason why group A is allowed, and group B is not. If you allow protestant bible study groups to meet, but try to ban Islamic Koran study groups, Or Catechism Study classes, or LDS classes, be prepared for some scrutiny.
720.304 Right of owners to peaceably assemble; display of flag; SLAPP suits prohibited.--
(1) All common areas and recreational facilities serving any homeowners' association shall be available to parcel owners in the homeowners' association served thereby and their invited guests for the use intended for such common areas and recreational facilities. The entity or entities responsible for the operation of the common areas and recreational facilities may adopt reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the use of such common areas and recreational facilities. No entity or entities shall unreasonably restrict any parcel owner's right to peaceably assemble or right to invite public officers or candidates for public office to appear and speak in common areas and recreational facilities.
One thing to be careful of with ANY allowance is that when you begin to allow one person to do X, be prepared to allow someone else to do X as well. So, if you allow a group to meet to do bible study, you should allow a group to meet to do geneology study too, for example... or you better have a good reason why group A is allowed, and group B is not. If you allow protestant bible study groups to meet, but try to ban Islamic Koran study groups, Or Catechism Study classes, or LDS classes, be prepared for some scrutiny.
EllenS1 (Florida)
Posts: 1,148
Posts: 1,148
Posted:
Leo,
If the clubhouse is for the use of owners I see nothing wrong with it provided it is not an association meeeting. If a member wanted to use the clubhouse for a party or whatever would they be denied? I doubt it.
If the clubhouse is for the use of owners I see nothing wrong with it provided it is not an association meeeting. If a member wanted to use the clubhouse for a party or whatever would they be denied? I doubt it.
TomJ6 (Florida)
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Posted:
Be careful Leo it sounds like you are discriminating against them.
TracieS (Colorado)
Posts: 460
Posts: 460
Posted:
OR...he is being discriminated AGAINST.
Leo...could you give us a bit more information on what's going on?
Leo...could you give us a bit more information on what's going on?
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
Leo - you don't mention if this is a homeowner who wants to get together for a bible study session with fellow homeowners, if this is going to be open to the public, or if this is a person who wants to rent the clubhouse in order to put on this study session.
MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491
Posts: 4,491
Posted:
HOAs and COAs are not government entities.
They are private corporations.
There would be no reason that religious activities could not be allowed, as long as there is nothing in the governing documents that would ban them. Which would be odd. But still. . .
They are private corporations.
There would be no reason that religious activities could not be allowed, as long as there is nothing in the governing documents that would ban them. Which would be odd. But still. . .
MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043
Posts: 7,043
Posted:
Michele,
I agree!
Some of the larger HOAs have various clubs that meet regularly in the clubhouse: Italian-American Club; Illinois Club; Needleworking Club, Book Club, Bridge Club, etc. A friend of mine lives in such an HOA and they have about 80 different clubs. I see no reason why a "bible study" group couldn't meet in the clubhouse.
I agree!
Some of the larger HOAs have various clubs that meet regularly in the clubhouse: Italian-American Club; Illinois Club; Needleworking Club, Book Club, Bridge Club, etc. A friend of mine lives in such an HOA and they have about 80 different clubs. I see no reason why a "bible study" group couldn't meet in the clubhouse.
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