A judge in Indiana has dismissed a lawsuit viewed as a strategic attempt to silence several Belle Mina, Alabama, congregations, including one from New Haven Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, as they continue to oppose a controversial limestone quarry in their historic north Alabama community.
The suit, filed by Elephants R Us LLC—one of the entities behind the Belle Mina quarry—sought $1.6 million in damages against Belle Mina Methodist Church, New Beginnings Covenant Ministries, and a local resident. Developers alleged the churches “interfered” with a lease agreement simply by speaking publicly about the quarry’s harmful impacts. The judge dismissed the claim as frivolous, marking a significant victory for the congregations.
The ruling strengthens the position of New Heaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, a plaintiff in ongoing litigation in Limestone County Circuit Court. The CPCA congregation, part of Huntsville Presbytery and pastored by the Rev. Walter J. Jones Sr., is located less than half a mile from the quarry site and has been a leading voice in the opposition.



