The church says they are obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ when they give food and medical care to those who need it. By denying them that opportunity, they claim the city is interfering with their faith.
The Right Reverend Diana Akiyama is the Bishop of the Diocese of Oregon. She says the city is impeding their right to religious expression.
鈥淲e are a Christian denomination, seeking to express our faith fundamentally in the form of feeding people who are hungry,鈥� says Akiyama. 鈥淎nd we don't believe city council has the right to tell us to stop taking care of people in need.鈥�
Brookings Mayor Ron Hedenskog declined to comment on ongoing litigation.
The ordinance against serving more than two free meals a week came in response to a petition from people living near St. Timothy鈥檚, who claimed the church鈥檚 programs were creating public safety problems. The petition, which refers to the people around St. Timothy鈥檚 Episcopal Church as 鈥渧agrants鈥� and 鈥渦ndesirables鈥� was signed by 30 people.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Timothy鈥檚 has taken on a larger role in feeding, vaccinating and sheltering the homeless community.
The Oregon Justice Resource Center's Walter Fonseca is representing the church. He says that the ordinance seems to be targeted specifically at limiting activities at St. Timothy鈥檚 Episcopal Church.
