The Episcopal Church in Western Oregon recently won a significant legal battle over the feeding ministry of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Brookings, bringing to a close litigation that began in early 2022. The church, led by the Rev. Bernie Lindley, provides free meals several days a week, a crucial service for the unhoused in Brookings and wider Curry County. Churches remain the only nonprofits offering free meals in Brookings, with no similar services from the city or county.
In October 2021, following a petition from residents, the City of Brookings passed an ordinance restricting meal services to two days per week in residential areas, claiming these services were akin to restaurants, which were not permitted under local zoning laws. St. Timothy’s, founded in 1946 with its current building completed in 1954, predates the zoning laws established in the 1980s, and like all other churches in Brookings, operates in a residential zone.
St. Timothy’s asked to meet with city officials to clarify that their feeding ministry was a core part of their religious mission and protected under the First Amendment. Fr. Lindley pointed out that the ordinance would leave unhoused individuals without meals for much of the week. Frustrated with the city’s refusal to meet, Fr. Lindley stated, “they’re going to have to handcuff me and take me to jail” to stop the church from feeding people. The conflict intensified as neighbors raised concerns about mental health and addiction issues among the homeless. However, Fr. Bernie noted that the church had stepped up to provide support in the absence of other services, including helping a heroin-addicted mother secure housing and reunite with her child after rehab.
In February 2022, the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon filed a lawsuit against the City of Brookings, arguing that the ordinance violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). In March 2024, a federal judge ruled in favor of the church, declaring the ordinance placed an undue burden on their religious exercise. The court ordered the city to pay over $400,000 in legal fees, including $43,000 to the Oregon Justice Resource Center.
“We are relieved and overjoyed that the essential Christian call to feed the hungry and care for the vulnerable will continue at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Brookings,” says the Rt. Rev. Diana Akiyama, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon. “Our communities need more compassion and love, and Fr. Bernie and the faithful people of St. Timothy’s are bringing this to life by their generosity and compassion.”
The settlement has reinvigorated St. Timothy’s, which now plans to expand its outreach. Fr. Bernie expressed relief that they can now speak openly about their future plans, including providing medical services and vaccinations to the community. Now that the case is resolved, the church is moving forward with plans for a nurse practitioner to offer services on-site. St. Timothy’s outreach ministries have already provided thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations and tests and are qualified to offer public health vaccines like shingles and pneumonia shots.
Despite the challenges, the congregation remains united in its mission. Fr. Bernie mentioned that while the church lost some parishioners over their LGBTQ+ inclusion and outreach to the unhoused, most parishioners have rallied around the church’s ministry. St. Timothy’s continues to be a beacon of hope for the marginalized, fulfilling its call to serve the “least of these” in their community.
Donations can be made to St. Timothy’s at paypal.me/sttimothyepiscopal, or donations can be sent directly to their office: St. Timothy, 401 Fir St., Brookings, OR 97415.