Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 9, 1990 TAG: 9005090786
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-7 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX LENGTH: Medium
Under his Christian Members Buyers Plan, Brown Lincoln-Mercury in Fairfax City offers to sell cars at a discount to those who practice a Christian religion and attend a Christian church.
"We're a Christian dealership. We sell the Christians cars at just a little above invoice," said Jackson, a Christian who owns and operates the dealership.
But a civil rights attorney is threatening to file suit against the dealership, saying the program violates the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act forbidding religious discrimination in credit transactions.
"It is not clear to me that one of the benefits which Jesus had in mind for those who accepted him as a savior was to provide them with discounted Lincoln or Mercury automobiles," Alexandria attorney Victor Glasberg said in a letter to the dealership.
Under the buying program, the dealership sells Lincoln cars for $600 over cost and Mercurys at $250 over cost to members of Christian churches. Jackson said church pastors can buy Lincolns at $400 over what he pays the factory, and Mercurys at $150 over his cost.
The dealership also will donate $100 for a Lincoln and $50 for a Mercury to the church of the qualifying customer's choice, Jackson said.
"Realizing that the church is the most vital unit and organization in society today, it is important that we as Christians continue to work for the Lord and support the uplifting of his kingdom," Jackson said in a letter distributed through area churches.
State and local officials said Jackson's buying program does not appear to violate any law.
Civil and human rights laws apply to housing, employment and places of public accommodation, such as restaurants and movie theaters, but not to car dealerships, said Bert Rohrer, a spokesman for Virginia attorney general Mary Sue Terry.
"There are no specific prohibitions on this," he said. "A car dealership is not a public accommodation."
But Glasberg said the program would discourage non-Christians from purchasing cars on credit from the dealership, a violation of federal law.
Glasberg said he has complained to the Federal Trade Commission and said he will bring "a lawsuit on behalf of a non-Christian denied the benefit of your plan," if the plan is not dropped.
Jackson denied he is discriminating against anyone.
"I'm not showing segregation against anyone," he said. "You join a church, you've joined my organization."
A spokesman for Lincoln-Mercury, a division of Ford Motor Co. in Detroit, said the company is aware of the program.
"Ford Motor Co. would not structure a program in this manner, but Freddye Jackson is an independent businessman," spokesman John Spelich said. "Quite frankly, we don't address this in our sales agreements with our dealers."
Jackson would not say how many customers have taken advantage of the program or what impact the prices have had on his dealership's profits. He created the buying program shortly after taking over the dealership in July 1989.
Jackson compared the Christian Members Buyers Plan to the United Buyers Service, which offers deals to employees of certain companies, and United States Automobile Association, which is open to military families.
Jews also qualify for his program, Jackson said.
But Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and members of most other non-Christian religions would not be eligible, he said.
When Jackson took over the management of the dealership, it was among the lowest-ranked Lincoln-Mercury dealers for customer service in the Washington area by the Ford Motor Co.
Since it became a "Christian dealership," it has risen to third place, according to Jackson.
Sales people are not allowed to smoke, drink or use profanity in the showroom and are encouraged to attend church, Jackson said.
"Christ being here made the difference," he said.
by CNB