City Drops Case
Against Pagan Church

Scott Rowe
The following was typed in by Baird Stafford. We of Iron Oak are deeply indebted to Baird for his effort. Thanks, Baird!
The following article appeared in the Local section of Florida Today, 11 July 1994, Copyright Florida Today. It is posted here without the permission of Florida Today.
The political showdown had been building for weeks: the Palm Bay Code Enforcement Board vs. the Church of Iron Oak.

The right to unrestricted worship was on the line.

On Friday, Palm Bay blinked.

Iron Oak leaders Jacque Zaleski and her husband, Roger Coleman, learned the city had dropped a code violation case filed in May against the pagan church.

The Wiccan sect had conducted one of six annual church holidays in the back yard of the couple's Mattison Drive home, and the city claimed the event was not allowed under zoning.

Those named in code violation cases are given an opportunity to correct the problem prior to appearing before the volunteer citizens board that presides over such disputes.

More than 60 days had passed since the complaint and no further church services had been conducted on Zaleski's property, indicating compliance, Palm Bay City Attorney Nick Tsamoutales said.

The ceremonies are not the only factor," he said. "It's the frequency and intensity of the activity, which in this case requires a special exception.

"One of their holidays transpired since the violation was noted, and in choosing to conduct their celebration elsewhere, they have remedied the situation."

Churches are an irregular land use in rural residential areas, and Palm Bay Planning and Development Chris Norton previously told Zaleski she would need to obtain a special exception before holding services. Norton would not comment Friday.

Despite an ideology predating Christ and a nontraditional belief in the power of magic, Iron Oak had received support from other Brevard County churches concerned with the freedom of unrestricted worship.

Zaleski says she is convinced that support affected the city's decision.

"I've done a lot of digging and I've found a lot of other religious groups in Palm Bay having the same kind of home meetings we are," said Zaleski, who is recognized for her work by the Aquarian Tabernacle Church.

Iron Oak members teach classes on the nature-oriented Wicca religion at an office in Melbourne, but the church's holiday ceremonies will continue to be held at Zaleski's home and in the local community, she said.