(ChurchLeaders) Bernie Lindley, pastor of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Brookings, OR, has vowed to continue providing meals for the unhoused members of the community, despite a new city ordinance that restricts the practice.
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church has been offering meals to those in need six days a week in response to meal services being halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neighbors of the church raised safety concerns as many unhoused individuals have flocked to the church, resulting in a city ordinance that bars any organization from offering free meals more than twice a week, for no more than a duration of three hours per day.
Rev. Lindley told CBN News that he and his church will refuse to comply with the ordinance. “They’re going to have to handcuff me and take me to jail, which they won’t do. So it’s not going to happen. We’re not going to stop feeding. We’re going to do what Christ compels us to do,” Lindley said.
At the beginning of the pandemic, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church obtained permits from the city to house individuals without homes in its parking lot, and Lindley suspects that this is what caused neighbors to grow concerned.