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Note #8233 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

04230
May 13, 2004

Fighting eviction

New Jersey church defends neighborhood ministries in zoning case

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - Leaders of First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, NJ, are hoping
for a more favorable ruling from the local zoning board when it meets next
month to reconsider a request that the congregation be permitted to continue
operating an ecumenical food pantry and counseling service in a church-owned
house.

	The Pitman zoning board rejected both uses last year after some
neighbors of the church raised concerns about traffic and loitering around
the Crafton House, which has housed both ministries for more than two years.

	The building is in an area zoned residential.

	The 380-member congregation responded by suing the borough, claiming
that both operations are part of its "mission and ministry" and should stay
open.

	The church also argued that a local zoning officer issued a permit
for both activities in 2002, and said the zoning board's denial of a variance
request last year was arbitrary and unconstitutional.

	"It's a profound issue," said the Rev. Bruce Gillette, a First
Presbyterian co-pastor. "Basically, what this means is that a government body
can tell a church who they can minister to, who they're allowed to have on
their property."

	The food pantry and counseling service have continued operating,
pending a resolution of the court case.

	Superior Court Assignment Judge George Stanger Jr. ruled on March 12
that the volunteer-run pantry and the agency-operated counseling service
should be considered separately, although they were listed together on an
application for a zoning variance.

	Stanger ordered the applications separated for reconsideration by the
board, which will take up the matter again on June 8. Gillette said the
church would appeal any ruling against either ministry.

	A woman who answered the phone at the Pitman zoning office on May 12
declined to comment on the case.

	Leaders of First church are ready to go back before the zoning board.

	"We're confident," Gillette said. "We appreciate the opportunity to
make our case again, and the best argument we will have is that we've been in
operation now a full year since the ruling and there have been no problems."

	Gillette and his wife, Carolyn, are co-pastors at 380-member First
church, an 80-year-old congregation in Gloucester County, about 14 miles
south of Camden.

	The church bought the Crafton House in December 2001 from the county
Association for Retarded Citizens.

	First church deacon Mel Powell, the food-pantry coordinator, said he
believes the church has a good chance to get a permit for at least the food
pantry.

	"Things are going to work out in a positive fashion," he said. "Right
now I believe it looks good."

	The three-hours-a-week food program serves 700 to 900 people a month,
Powell said, and the counseling service has dozens of clients in a typical
month. He said the pantry is supplied in part by South Jersey Food Bank, an
affiliate of Second Harvest, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.

	Powell said volunteers from First church and from Lutheran, United
Methodist, Episcopalian and Baptist congregations take turns staffing the
food bank.

	Gillette said only six neighbors voiced complaints during the
original zoning board hearing in the case in April 2003, while hundreds of
others have signed petitions in support of the ministries. He said the
residents' initial concerns are groundless.

	 "We haven't had any need for the police to be called by anybody for
people coming for food or for counseling," he said, adding that there has
been no loitering, vandalism or "anything of a negative nature." He said
church officials have encouraged police to patrol the area often and make
themselves visible.

	"We don't want any problems," Gillette said. "But there's never been
any problems. It's just not an issue."

	He said the pantry and counseling services have helped improve the
quality of life of "many, many people."

	The Presbyterian Church (USA) Hunger Program  (PHP) last year
contributed $5,000 toward First church's legal expenses in the case.

	"The hunger ministry has been an integral part of congregational life
since the time of the first disciples," said the Rev. Gary Cook, the hunger
program's coordinator. "It's important that we protect the church's ability
to minister to those in need."

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