No signs - except for real estate or security signs - are allowed in the Prince William County development. Henderson was given 15 days to comply.
Mr. Henderson, is a federal government employee who will keep the Jesus sign up until Jan. 1.
"When I got the letter on Christmas Eve, I called my wife over and said, 'You're never going to believe this,' " Henderson, 38, said. "I figured we couldn't put up commercial or political signs, but certainly the association could use discretion when it came to religion.
"What really bothered me was that they sent it on Christmas. I consider myself a man of faith. The sign shows to all of our neighbors what Christ means to us."
Carol Piering, a spokeswoman for the management company, said the sign's religious message had nothing to do with the decision to enforce the rules. "The content of the sign is not why the letter was sent," she said, acknowledging that the warning could have been mailed on a different date. "The letter was ill-timed, and for that we absolutely apologize."
"This is a matter of a private contract, and HOAs are entitled to have declarations, and whatever those declarations are make up the laws of that community," said Mike Inman, a Virginia Beach lawyer and co-publisher of the Virginia Condominium & Homeowners' Association Law Blog. "But it would seem to me that the 'Happy Birthday Jesus' item was not necessarily a sign, but yard decor for the season."
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JMC Response:
At this time there are over 1400 who have participated in the poll on the Washington Post site. 80% so far want to see the decor stay up!
Christ is the ONLY reason for Christmas. If not then why call it CHRISTmas? It is the celebration of God's son born on Earth!
God bless this family for taking a stand for Christ!
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