Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey. Photo: Mary Frances Schjonberg/Episcopal News Service
[Episcopal News Service] The leaders of Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey, will not fight the town’s refusal to grant them a zoning variance to open a 17-bed overnight shelter on its campus.
The shelter proposal had called for updating the church’s circa-1882 parish house while adding 949 square feet. Christ Church needed an exception to the church’s zoning classification for the shelter. None of the town’s zoning classifications allows such shelters without a variance, and the town rejected the variance request in June on a 5-2 vote.
The Affordable Housing Alliance and the Toms River Housing and Homeless Coalition have operated out of the parish house since 2023. The alliance would have run the shelter with a grant from Ocean County, but that grant’s availability ended on June 30 and was not renewed.
The Rev. Lisa Hoffman, Christ Church’s rector, told the parish and shelter supporters in an Aug. 13 message that the parish lacks the money or staffing to run the shelter without that grant.
“Please know that this was not an easy decision or one made lightly,” she said. Hoffman added that the decision was made even more difficult because the church’s attorney was confident that the church would have won if it appealed the zoning decision. “But after carefully examining the situation, Bishop (Sally) French and I agree that it would be best for us not to pursue any further action at this time.”
Hoffman acknowledged that some will be disappointed by the decision and others will be relieved. Hoffman said the “sacred trust” given to her when the church called her as rector means she must “protect and care for the people and property entrusted to me as your pastor.”
“Bishop French and I agree that to make any other decision would not be in the best interest of the congregation at this time and could violate that sacred trust,” she said.
French told Episcopal News Service Aug. 14 that she is “grateful to the leadership of Christ Church, the clergy and the lay leaders and people for their faithful efforts.”
The decision notwithstanding, French said she is disappointed that Christ Church’s “worthwhile efforts to expand services to the homeless and those in need in the community” were blocked. “We remain committed to the work of gospel, justice, and we look forward to further opportunities to build connections and support the support the community, especially those suffering from homelessness.”
Hoffman noted that the church continues to face complaints from neighbors about the presence of people experiencing homelessness being on the campus. Some Toms River residents had said that a shelter on church property would further make the town a “magnet” for homeless people. Others said it would put neighborhood homes and the children who live in them at risk.
Mayor Daniel Rodrick’s threat in April to acquire the church’s 11 acres and five other lots for park land, either through purchase or by eminent domain, also figured into the church’s decision not to appeal the zoning board denial, Hoffman said. Some people have questioned whether it’s in Christ Church’s best interest to continue to pursue the shelter. “They also see the county working toward a solution with the opening of their cooling/warming center,” she said.
Since then, Rodrick has regrouped on his land-seizure effort. He told ENS in July that he wants to gauge public support for his plan through a “statistically significant” poll of some 300-500 respondents, financed with his campaign funds. There’s since been no word on the status of the poll.
Hoffman is glad the church’s shelter proposal “brought forth a much larger and louder conversation” about how to help unhoused people in Toms River and Ocean County.” She noted that many churches and organizations, as well as the county, have united to work for a solution. “Christ Church will continue to find ways to support those and hopefully work with other nonprofits to finally bring to fruition solutions to help those in need of housing,” she said. Christ Church will continue to support the Affordable Housing Alliance’s work.
Hoffman recalled Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians when he wrote about partnering with God for the spread of ministry. “Paul planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase,” Hoffman said. “Perhaps Christ Church was called to be Paul. Apollos is now watering the seed and God will send forth the fruit. Only time will tell.”
– The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is a freelance writer who formerly was a senior editor and reporter for Episcopal News Service.