Beginning this week the St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church has been issued $1,000 per day fines over its overnight accommodations for the homeless. Delmarva Public Media's Don Rush talks with Reverend Jill Williams about the fines and what lies ahead.
RUSH: Ocean City has begun issuing citations to the St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church for providing overnight shelter for the homeless. This is Don Rush. This conflict began when the church put up tents for the homeless outside its building. When told it was a violation of city code, the church moved their operation inside, providing barrack style sleeping quarters. But the city has said that still violates the city codes, and on June 8th, began issuing $1,000 citations for each day the church continues with the overnight shelter. The church is moving forward with a challenge in federal court, citing the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use Act. We spoke with the church's Reverend Jill Williams about the current situation and a reaction to what could be mounting fines.
WILLIAMS: We start serving our community meal at 10:00 AM. A little after 10:00 AM, they come to the front door and they hand me a citation. And then the vestry of this church a citation. Maybe they don't know who - what to do since we're a church, I'm not sure, but it's a thousand dollars a day. And this morning I met them reading the gospel of what we're doing here at the church, and they still gave me the citation. And we are filing in federal court as we speak for a protection for the church.
RUSH: Now, if it's a thousand dollars a day, if indeed you don't win in court, that's going to add up to a lot of money. Is the church willing to go that far? How confident are you that you would win in court?
WILLIAMS: Yeah, we're absolutely confident because this is not only a First Amendment right, but we're protected under the Religious Land Use Act. And this is the mission of the church. So we are confident. And so I'm not worried about paying any of these things. What we've heard from the community, the community is so upset that the Ocean City government is taking the time and money and energy to do this to the church while there is no other solution for the folks that we're serving.
RUSH: So what has been the mood then of the congregation?
WILLIAMS: The congregation is shocked that the town has chosen to go this route, of course, but they are firm in their mission. And of course the need is here. We have had so many life-affirming interactions with the folks that we serve as guests that is obvious, the crisis present here. And so they are more than ever committed to this mission. And when they hear the support from the community and from all the, not only people in Ocean City, but even in the state of Maryland, in the nation, when they hear that support, it is just life-giving for all of us.
RUSH: The folks who shelter at your place overnight, I assume they've heard about this. What sense do they have about this? Or do you even talk to them about it?
WILLIAMS: Well, I think that they're used to being treated like things, like objects, like something to be removed and disregarded. So I don't think that they're surprised at all that this is happening. Of course, they're worried. We reassure them all the time. We are here to do this mission and we will protect you and we will care for you. So that's our job is to take that off of their plate. They should not have to worry about that. They have enough on their plate of worries just trying to struggle through life that they do not need to worry about a local government trying to take away their place of safe shelter. So it's our job to reassure them and to take care of them, and that is what we'll continue to do every night.
RUSH: Reverend Jill Williams with the St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church, full interview can be heard on this Friday's Delmarva Today at noon on WESM and WSDL, this is Don Rush for Delmarva Public Media.
