2021-01-11. questionnaireQuestionnaire to Support Request for Exemption
from Code Requirement
on Religious Grounds
This questionnaire is intended to allow city staff to develop a fuller
understanding of an applicant's religious needs. It is hoped that, through
this fuller understanding, the city can better assess whether it is
necessary and appropriate on religious grounds to allow an applicant to
engage in an otherwise prohibited use. The city does not want its code
requirements to impose a substantial burden on an applicant's religious
practice. If a code requirement does appear to burden an applicant’s
religious practice, the city may want to explore any alternatives
available that would address the city's (the public’s) interests, while being
less intrusive on an applicant's religious practice. Toward that end,
please answer the following questions. Feel free to answer on a separate
sheet of paper if you need more space.
Please state your name and position in the religious organization you are
representing:
Ann Jacob, Pastor at Edmonds United Methodist Church
Identify the address of the proposed use in question:
828 Caspers Street, Edmonds, WA 98020
Please describe the proposed use of your property.
To permit the Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network (TWOCSN) to park four busses
on our parking lot.
Please describe how the use described above relates to your religious
practice or religious needs.
We are a United Methodist Church, which means practice of our faith is central to our
community. We are also a reconciling congregation. This means that we resist evil,
injustice, and oppression as we seek justice for people of all sexual orientations and
gender identities. We strive to transform ourselves and the world by living out the
Gospel’s teachings of grace, love, justice, and celebration of all of God’s children. One
way of practicing our faith is to be in solidarity with and providing refuge to people who
are marginalized. Trans Women of Color are a vulnerable and marginalized community.
It would be imperative for us to practice our faith and fulfill our religious obligations by
extending hospitality to them through the use of our property.
Please describe the degree to which the proposed use is central to or
tangential to your religious practice.
The proposed use is central to our religious practice. In our sacred texts, the prophet
Micah says that the Lord requires of us “to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly
with God.” Further, in the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus shared the double love
commandment and part of it is to love our neighbor as our self. Doing justice and loving
our neighbors is central to our religious practice. And so, permitting the TWOCSN to
park four busses on our property is central to our religious practice.
Please list any city code section(s) that might prevent you from engaging in
the above-described use. (Please feel free to consult with city staff on this
question if you are unsure.)
17.100.020 and 16.20
Please describe how the city’s enforcement of the above code section(s)
would impose a burden on your ability to exercise your religion.
At the moment, enforcing the city codes would impose a significant burden on our
ability to exercise our religion. Religious practice is not merely about speaking words of
faith or listening to words of faith. Religi ous practice requires actions of faith. When
provided with an opportunity to practice our faith through actions, we are obligated to
act. Restricting our ability to exercise our religion is a burden.
Please describe any alternative means available to exercise the aspect of
your religion affected by this code in the event that you were unable to
obtain an exemption from the code section(s) referenced above. For
example, do you have access to an alternative location where this use could
be conducted? For another example, would you be able to reduce the scale
of your activity at the proposed location without substantially burdening
your religious exercise?
There is no alternative means available and no alternative location. This is a unique
request that requires a singular action.
Due to Covid-19, our church building is closed for in-person worship services for the
foreseeable future. In terms of property use, due to the pandemic, we have scaled back
nearly all of our regular programming.
Are you seeking a temporary exemption or a permanent exemption for this
use? If temporary, please state the requested duration of the use.
We are seeking a temporary exemption for six months.
Please describe the negative impacts that your neighbors might experience
from your proposed use or construction activity.
One negative impact could be seeing the busses in the parking lot. However, I imagine it
would be offset by the knowledge that Trans Women of Color would very soon have
access to sustainable housing.
Please describe any acceptable conditions that would mitigate the negative
impacts of your use or construction activity on your neighbors, while still
allowing you to reasonably exercise your religion.
We will take the responsibility to inform t he neighbors about the project and its
duration.
Signature and Date of person submitting questionnaire
Date
Printed Name: