United Methodist Church To Share Space

The township planning board approved a waiver that would permit the Living Water Tabernacle to share space at the Montville United Methodist Church at 29 Whitehall Road at its meeting on July 22.

The waiver, which will allow for the Fairfield, NJ-based Living Water Tabernacle church community to hold services at the church, was unanimously passed by acting head Russ Lipari and the rest of the board.

The Living Water Tabernacle will be allowed to use the church at alternate times from the Methodist church, specifically on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The board did not specify the length of the arrangement. According to planning board secretary Linda White, pastors for both churches have submitted letters of approval for the building share.

The waiver also allows for the re-roofing of a separate school building behind the church. White characterized the roof as "terrible" and being in need of repairs.

"They gave me samples and it matched the earth tones," she said. "It really needs to be addressed."

While no changes to the structure of the school building are to be made, because the re-roofing is categorized as a commercial activity, it required board approval.

As of press time, neither pastor was available for comment.

The planning board's next meeting is scheduled for August 12 at the municipal building.