OCEAN CITY, Md. — A church in Ocean City has been penalized for operating a shelter without the necessary permits, according to local officials. St. Paul’s by-the-Sea, led by Pastor Jill Williams, has received a total of $3,000 in fines from the city.
In a recent Facebook Live session, Pastor Williams documented a meeting with George Bendler, Ocean City's Director of Planning & Community Development, who presented the church with a zoning citation. During the interaction, Williams quoted a Bible verse before signing the citation.
Since launching its Shelter-By-the-Sea program on March 31, 2026, St. Paul’s has provided shelter for 1,679 individuals and served lunch to 4,826 people. The initiative was established after the city mandated the removal of tents previously used for homeless accommodations on the church's property.
In response to the fines, the church has initiated a fundraising campaign to support the shelter, successfully raising over $32,160 to date. Operating the shelter is estimated to cost around $200,000 annually.
Despite the city's actions, Pastor Williams has expressed a commitment to continue the shelter's operations and has vowed not to comply with the city's demands to shut it down.
WMAR-2 News has reached out to Bendler and Ocean City Manager Terry McGean for their comments regarding the situation and is awaiting their responses.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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