A federal judge has ruled against the city government of Brookings, Oregon, in a First Amendment case involving St. Timothy's Episcopal Church's homeless meal service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke deemed an ordinance passed by the city as a violation of the church's religious freedom rights. The ordinance, enacted in 2021, mandated a permit for serving free food in residential areas and restricted the church's meal services to two days a week.
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, which has been providing free meals to the homeless since 2009, challenged the ordinance in court, arguing that it impeded their religious practices. The federal judge concurred with the church, stating that the city failed to justify limiting the number of days for meal distribution.
Rev. Bernie Lindley of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church expressed that serving meals to the marginalized aligns with their religious beliefs. He emphasized that caring for those in need is a fundamental aspect of their faith. Despite knowing the ordinance was unconstitutional, the church pursued legal action to protect its ability to serve the community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church observed an increased demand for meals and expanded its services to six days a week. This expansion led to complaints from residents, prompting the city to introduce the restrictive ordinance. While the recent court ruling safeguards the church's meal service, additional legal disputes persist between the city and the church.
Brookings has also requested the church to cease its shower and advocacy services, a directive that the church has contested through an appeal process. The ongoing legal battles underscore the complexities surrounding the intersection of religious practices, community services, and local regulations.
