Is Gilbert really banning Bible study in private homes? No.

A number of right-wing blogs are all excited about the city of Gilbert’s supposedly having told a small church group it wasn’t allowed to meet in private homes. Sonoran Alliance posting here, World News Daily posting here.

Says WND:

The city of Gilbert, Ariz., has ordered a group of seven adults to stop gathering for Bible studies in a private home because such meetings are forbidden by the city’s zoning codes.

The issue was brought to a head when city officials wrote a letter to a pastor and his wife informing them they had 10 days to quit having the meetings in their private home.

The issue hasn’t hit the Republic or the EVT yet. It’s going to be interesting to watch how the papers handle what could become a case study in how knuckle-headed stuff like this is handled by the press.

Read this ABC-15 news story on the issue, for example, and you see the story is really about something different:

The Oasis of Truth Church was holding services at a home near Riggs and Chandler Heights roads up until November.

A city code enforcement officer noticed signs in the neighborhood directing people to the services. He sent them a letter saying the church was in violation of the Land Development Code.

In other words, the people weren’t “gathering for Bible studies in a private home.” It was a church advertising, and holding, church services in a private home.

There’re obvious reasons why that’s not allowed.