Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's Land Use Board of Appeals has ruled that an Ashland couple may use their home as a spiritual retreat. As April Baer reports, the case may set a precedent, loosening the standards for where churches can be built.

Sulara and Scott Young aren't running a traditional style church. But they wanted to build onto their home  to create a spiritual retreat, called the Circle of Teran Ranch.

The Youngs' website explains their spiritual journey as one that began when one of their children died. Scott is a plastic surgeon; and  according to the  website, he also performs shamanic healings.

The problem, according to Jackson County officials, is that the Young's ranch lies outside the Urban Growth Boundary, and churches are prohibited outside it.

Dave Hunnicutt is with the property rights group, Oregonians in Action. He helped the Youngs appeal their case after the county originally turned them them down.

Dave Hunnicutt: "I think this is simply a case where you have a state administrative rule that treats secular uses differently than religious uses, and as a result, violates both federal law and -- we believe -- the U.S. Constitution."

Hunnicutt says the Youngs can now go forward with their plans to host larger gatherings, and overnight guests.