The Michigan town where only Christians are allowed to buy houses

[Judi Lynn]

Rose Hackman
Fri 9 Feb 2018 05.00 EST Last modified on Fri 9 Feb 2018 10.00 EST

Tucked away in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, somewhere along the winding roads that hug Great Lakes shores, is an idyllic town named Bay View. For more than a century, generations of “Bay Viewers” have congregated here to share in summer activities.

What started out as a modest camping ground for Methodist families 140 years ago has quietly developed into a stunning vacation spot for people who can afford the upkeep of a second home. Streets named Moss, Fern and Maple are dotted with impeccably maintained century-old gingerbread cottages. Over the horizon, residents can watch lifelong friends sail their boats across the water.

But this paradise is not open to all.

In Bay View, only practicing Christians are allowed to buy houses, or even inherit them.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/09/christians-only-town-bay-view-michigan

[Angry Dragon]

1. Do they have membership cards??

[chuckstevens]

2. Completely Unconstitutional!

Maybe no one wants to challenge it.

[Hestia]

8. In reading the article, 5th & 6th generation cottage owners are trying to overturn this - basically

because they cannot leave their cottages to their heirs due to multi-religion household.

It's one of the last Chautauqua towns and on the national register, but that shouldn't have anything to do with it (?).

Methodism must be wholly different up North, than it is down here.

Other locals hate it too. I don't see how this has been allowed to stand, other than the owners are summer residents and the rest are year round, who seem to have control.

How is this Constitutional? Fair Housing if nothing else?

[niyad]

3. Calling the Satanic Temple!!! yooohooo, ST???

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

4. Holy Cow!

`

[LakeArenal]

5. They can have it...

Havin' way more fun out here in hell..

[monmouth4]

6. Ocean Grove, NJ, next town south of Asbury Park is very similar..n/t

[Hortensis]

7. Sure. Communities developed in many different forms

over the last 400 years. This shouldn't surprise anyone.