Easton church to challenge Ocean City in federal court in defense of homeless shelter ministry
Bunk beds at the shelter for unhoused people inside St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City, Maryland. Photo: Courtesy of Jill Williams
Editor’s note: The church filed a complaint in a Maryland U.S. District Court on June 16.
[Episcopal News Service] St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church is preparing to file a federal lawsuit against Ocean City, Maryland, to stop the resort town from shutting down its overnight shelter for unhoused people.
On both June 8 and 9, the church received citations from the town saying it must pay a fine of $1,000 per day or close the shelter on its property. On both occasions, Ocean City’s director of planning and community development, George M. Bendler, hand-delivered the citations while accompanied by a witness.
The Rev. Jill Williams, St. Paul’s By-the-Sea’s rector, told ENS in a June 9 interview that she has no plans to close the shelter or pay the fines.
“Today, when [Bendler and his witness] issued the citation, I read them the Gospel – Matthew 25: ‘When I was hungry, you fed me. …Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.’ The church is very clear where we stand with our ministry to the homeless,” Williams said.
St. Paul’s By-the-Sea, which is in the Diocese of Easton, announced its plans to file a lawsuit against the town in a June 8 press release.
In May, the town sent a letter demanding that the church close its shelter by June 8. It claimed the shelter’s bunk beds are “consistent with barracks-style living quarters,” which are not permitted within its zoning district. Williams previously told ENS that the bunk beds purchased for the sleeping space were specifically made for overnight shelters.
On May 12, St. Paul’s By-the-Sea’s lawyer, Robin R. Cockey, replied to the town’s letter explaining why the church won’t close the shelter or pay any fines. He noted that St. Paul’s By-the-Sea is federally protected under the U.S. Constitution’s free exercise clause and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. These protections “afford the church ample protection against overzealous zoning impositions such as those threatened by Mr. Bendler.”
St. Paul’s By-the-Sea’s legal clashes with town officials started last fall when the church began allowing unhoused people to sleep in church-provided tents on its property. The small encampment was made in response to Ocean City and the surrounding Worcester County adopting ordinances in May 2025, making it illegal – punishable by jail time – for people to sleep in public spaces. Earlier this year, the church faced a deadline to remove the tents by April 1, or face fines of up to $5,000 per day.
After raising money to hire staff and cover other expenses required to operate as a shelter, St. Paul’s By-the-Sea beat the town’s deadline when it opened “The Shelter By-the-Sea” on March 31. The ministry operates nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Now, about 27 people sleep at the shelter every night.
“Every evening our doors open to people who need safety, dignity and hope,” Williams said in the press release. “We believe that serving our neighbors in this way is part of our calling as a church, and we remain committed to that work.”
Williams noted to ENS last month that St. Paul’s By-the-Sea is located near the tourist area of Ocean City, which is located on a barrier island off the Atlantic coast. The town’s peak tourism season started Memorial Day in late May and will run through Labor Day in early September.
The ministry, which is mostly funded by donations and the congregation, also offers dinner and breakfast, and helps overnight guests access other resources, such as substance abuse programs and affordable housing assistance.
Williams told ENS last month that if Ocean City fined St. Paul’s By-the-Sea and the church responded with a federal lawsuit, she’s “100% confident” the parish would win.
-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.