The City of Brookings, Oregon, is set to fork over more than $400,000 in legal costs after it attempted to impose restrictions on a local church’s outreach efforts aimed at assisting the homeless community. This decision comes in the wake of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, which has been providing free meals several days a week, facing pushback from neighboring residents.
As part of a recently announced settlement, Brookings will reimburse a legal group $375,000 and a nonprofit organization $43,000, following their controversial ordinance that had positioned stringent requirements on the church’s feeding operations. The city has agreed to repeal the ordinance that diminished the scope of the church’s outreach, allowing it to resume its mission.
Commenting on the resolution, Father Bernie Lindley from St. Timothy’s expressed relief, saying, “We’re really glad that the whole thing’s over with and we can get back to … getting to the needs of the marginalized in our community without the distraction of this lawsuit.” He emphasized the importance of religious freedom in this context.
Background of the Dispute
This contention traces back to 2021, when Brookings implemented Ordinance 21-O-795. This local law mandated that food provision organizations in residential areas obtain conditional use permits, limiting their operations to just twice a week. Given that St. Timothy’s had been serving meals since 2009 and had grown to offer food on multiple days weekly, the new restrictions were deeply problematic for the church’s mission.
City Manager Janelle Howard justified the city’s action by citing complaints from residents regarding issues such as littering and noise. She stated that the residents sought some form of relief due to impacts on their neighborhood. However, there was significant pushback against this rationale, with many arguing that it infringed upon the rights of the church.
Support from the Federal Government
The church’s legal battle was bolstered by support from the U.S. Department of Justice, which asserted that the city’s restrictions violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke underscored the necessity for religious groups to freely convey their beliefs and provide essential services to their communities.
In March, a federal judge ruled against the city, declaring that the ordinance significantly burdened the church’s feeding ministry, which was integral to its religious exercise. This legal ruling ultimately paved the way for the church to reclaim its operations, much to the relief of its supporters.
City Council Member Clayton Malmberg commented on the situation, noting that progress could have been made through community dialogue rather than legal wrangling. He acknowledged that while the legal matter has been resolved, the concerns of local residents regarding the ministry’s functions still persist.
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