Help Protect Christ Church Property & Community Outreach

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 and a large and active congregation will lose their church home.

Eminent domain should never be used to control a faith community’s ministries and service. Municipal government cannot claim property held by a faith community as a way of preventing activities they oppose. If this proposed use of eminent domain goes forward, all faith communities are at risk.

We oppose this action. We are preparing for legal action and we need your support. Please donate to help fund legal fees to oppose the Toms River mayor and township council efforts to claim the Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River property through eminent domain.

This GoFundMe request comes from the Clergy and Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River with the support of the Bishop of New Jersey. Any funds raised will be used for legal fees to oppose the unjust actions to remove Christ Church from our property in Toms River. If there are funds remaining after the legal actions have concluded, remaining funds will be used to support Christ Church’s outreach ministries that serve our poor and homeless neighbors.

The church is not for sale. People matter more than Pickleball. Thank you for your support of Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River, New Jersey.

Please also Sign the Petition. All signatures, regardless of the town and state you reside are encouraged.

Thank you.