The Issue

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, less than 24 hours before a scheduled Toms River Township Council meeting, a concerned community member alerted the leadership of Christ Church, Toms River, that the church property had been added to a proposal for an eminent domain ordinance. The mayor of Toms River is attempting to claim the 11-acre downtown church property, to be used as a recreational center and community park. Despite widespread community opposition, the motion passed its initial reading at the meeting on April 30.

This action is unjust. It comes while the congregation is seeking municipal permission to build a homeless shelter on their property as an extension of the church’s many ministries and programs that serve and support those in need in the Toms River community. If the eminent domain ordinance goes forward, Toms River will lose a vital source of support for vulnerable residents.

Christ Church is a large and active congregation with a longstanding commitment to outreach and community support, especially for those in need. Together, the people of Christ Church participate in more than 20 essential ministries that support the Toms River community and beyond. These offerings include feeding and clothing programs, multiple 12-step groups, and more. Christ Episcopal Church has been part of Toms River for 160 years and has a long history of service and outreach.

Now, the congregation of Christ Church, Toms River needs your support. Please sign our petition to tell the mayor and township council that people matter more than pickleball courts. Eminent domain should never be used to control a church’s ministries. We stand together with the congregation of Christ Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, and The Episcopal Church, to oppose the unjust actions of the Toms River mayor and township council.

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More info: https://chng.it/qsTQcPRvqv