To: Mayor Rodrick and Town Council of Toms River, NJ
From: NJ Coalition of Religious Leaders
Date: May 28, 2025
Re: Christ Episcopal Church
The New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders is the oldest and largest interfaith organization in the state. Grounded in a community-centered theology rooted in love, we draw strength from our diverse faith traditions to speak with one voice for justice across New Jersey. Justice, the call to fairness, compassion, and righteousness, is a shared value across all our faiths.
With profound and deep concern for the ministry and neighbors of Christ Episcopal Church, we write to urge you to end the proceedings that have begun imposing an eminent domain ordinance on this property in Toms River.
For over 160 years Christ Church has served and been a cornerstone of the Toms River Community. This congregations provides over 20 active programs that serve the community and especially those in need of food, addiction recovery support and other critical ministries that are rooted in compassion and service.
This church is trusted partner in the community and its presence is irreplaceable.
As faith leaders, we are deeply concerned about the potential precedent for municipal, state, or federal control of faith communities. Eminent domain should never be used to control a church’s faithful ministries; this is an overreach of local government powers. We stand alongside the Episcopal Church in opposition to this unjust resolution.
Our faith compels us to stand in solidarity with those who serve the marginalized. We are called to lift up the voices of our neighbors in need and to advocate for just and compassionate change across all systems in our state.
We urge you to rescind this ordinance and allow Christ Episcopal Church to continue its vital work. The future of this community and integrity of religious freedom in New Jersey depend on it.
With urgency and faith,
Rev. Sara Lilja, Executive Director
NJ Coalition of Religious Leader
Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer
Executive Director, Salvation and Social Justice
AME Church
Rev. Jeanne Radak, Presbytery Leader
Presbytery of the Highlands of NJ
Very Rev. Peter Baktis
Orthodox Church of America
Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun
Rev. Eric Dobson
Fair Share Housing New Jersey
Rev. Charles Loflin
UU FaithAction NJ
Rev. Freeman Palmer, Conference Minister
Central Atlantic, United Church of Christ
Amman Singh Seehra
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Cannon Annette Buchanan
Episcopal Diocese Of New Jersey
Rabbi Arnold Gluck
Rabbi Emeritus – Temple Beth-El of Hillsborough
Rev. Tanya Linn Bennet, Ph.D.
Association Team for Vocation and Formation
Drew University -United Methodist Church
Rev, Craig Peterson
Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development
Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ
Bishop Tracie L. Bartholomew
New Jersey Synod – Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Rev. Steve Huston, Presbytery Leader
Presbytery of the Northeast
Rev. Dr. Joyce Antila Phipps
Old Frist Church, Middletown, NJ
Executive Director Casa De Esperanza
Mohammad Ali Chaudry, Ph.D., President
Islamic Society of Basking Ridge
Rev. Roberto Fois
Board of Directors – Central Atlantic Conference – United Church of Christ
Rev. Nancy Truscott
Ecumenical Faith Officer
New Jersey Synod – Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Rev. Steven H. Shussett, Stated Clerk
Presbytery of the Highlands of NJ , Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Rusty Eidmann-Hicks
UCC Social Witness Task Force
United Church of Christ
Rev. Miriam Mendez
Executive Minister and Senior Regional pastor
The American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
Elder Jean Woodman, Stated Clerk
Presbytery of the Coastlands of NJ
Rev. Kathleen Dain, Transitional Executive Presbyter
Presbytery for Southern New Jersey
