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Pictured: Mammoth Community Church (Photo courtesy Everson)/

By Pastor Justin Everson

Fifty years ago, Protestant locals and visitors held religious services at the Mammoth Lakes Firehouse and Community Hall, making the desire for a Protestant church a reality. The following are excerpts from past church minutes which detail the founding of Mammoth Community church 50 years ago:

May 8, 1962: At 8:45 p.m., in the Firehouse Community Hall, the congregation attending the evening mid-week service, and all parties interested in the forming of a Mammoth Community Protestant Church, met to form just such a church.  Pastor E. F. Brown, presiding over the meeting, suggested that the congregation form as the Mammoth Presbyterian Church, becoming a part of the Mono County Larger Parish. By a show of 19 hands, Pastor Brown s suggestion was voted down unanimously in favor of organizing as the Mammoth Community Church. Those voting represented the Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Christian, Lutheran, Assembly of God, and Baptist denominations. The newly formed Mammoth Community Church was organized as an inter-denominational community church in cooperation with the Mono County Larger Parish,

May 12, 1962: A meeting of the Board of Trustees together with the Forest Service was held in the office of the Assistant District Ranger Kenneth Chilman, in the absence of Mr. William Murphy, District Ranger. The board inquired as to the procedure for obtaining a Special Use Permit. Mr. Chilman suggested the possibility of the land site incorporating the proposed Forest Service Visitors Building site and parking lot. Ranger Chilman told the board that a forest service architect would be in the area in two weeks. At that time he would instruct them as to where they might build the church. What was known is that the Forest Service wanted the church to be built of native rock.

June 28, 1962: A 20-year land use permit was obtained. The Forest Service leased the parcel of land to the Mammoth Community Church at the present site for $1 annually.

While some improvements have since been made, this building is truly a unique example of the 1960s period mountain architecture designed by the National Forest Service and predating even the incorporation of the town of Mammoth Lakes.

It must be said that the legacy of any church is more than a building, for the true church is its congregation. And yet, a building may reflect its tenets. One might ask, Is it used in ways that reflect The Creator, or in ways that only reflect those who created it? Is it neglected or is it cared for? Does it stand the test of time, or is it forgotten and abandoned? After all, a building is only as good as the congregation that envisions and builds it.

This building was erected and dedicated  for the Glory of God-in-Christ and the betterment of the spiritual life of the Community of Mammoth Lakes. I pray this will always be so.

During a meeting, when the Town was considering the highest good and best use of Suite Z, which at the time involved an occupying Church versus a proposed Town Meeting room, a former Town official asked the attending pastors, “What good is a church?” I’ve never forgotten that. And so I’ve asked myself many times, “What good is the Mammoth Community Church?” It is difficult to summarize what contributions this small church has made through 50 years of service but hopefully the following highlights will give us an idea of what good a church might be: We have maintained a tradition of  Vacation Bible School, Birthday for Jesus, and  Bible Club that ministered to approximately 4,500 children; a Sunday School that ministered to 12,000 children and 15,600 adults; worship services that included 73,000 adults; a sports ministry at Mammoth Mountain that has reached 38,000 skiers; 50 years of support for 30 different missionaries; approximately 8,000 converts; the 8-year sponsorship of the Boy Scouts of America troop 370, and the Explorer Aviation Program; 12 years of participation with the Town Clean Up Day; a faithful commitment to influence the culture of the Mammoth Lakes region which has included hosting the Bonn University Choir for Beethoven s ninth at 9,000 feet, the Jazz Jubilee Sunday Jazz services, Blackwood Brothers Quartet; development of a worship team that has periodically included, a bell-choir, worship band with violins, trumpets, drums, guitars, and piano; I could go on. Not included in this summary are the counseling sessions, weddings, burials, hospital visits and donations provided over 50 years of ministry. It is apparent from this review that our church has contributed much to our community. And ours is but a small one of several. Just think of what all the churches in Mammoth Lakes have contributed to our Town and this entire area. I say,  God bless them.

Church versus state or just someone irate? That debate came before the Mammoth Unified School District (MUSD) Board of Education Thursday, May 24. The Board discussed its position on the use of Mammoth Middle School by a local community church, pursuant to a possible renewal of a civic center permit for Mammoth Christian Fellowship (MCF).

Agenda Bill 1112-33, authored by MUSD Superintendent Rich Boccia, laid out the District’s legal position that it can open its facilities and grounds to a church or religious organization, provided the District charges the religious entity “direct costs.”

In March, use of MMS facilities by MCF raised concern among at least a few parents, most notably Kelly and June Simpkins, who at the time met with Boccia to inquire why a church is allowed to hold its services on school property, when public schools are expected to maintain a position of neutrality when it comes to religious views.

Boccia pointed out that according to school policy, which is bound by Education Code, the schools are allowed to rent out facilities to groups such as churches as long as the group is not meeting at the school when students are present. This type of rental program is operated under civic center permits.

Currently, Mammoth Christian Fellowship uses school facilities on Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday morning, according to Boccia.

During the BOE’s April meeting, June Simpkins commented to the Board she was “surprised” to see the church making a “home in our schools.” She suggested that other facilities are available to such groups, and took issue with what she said were MCF services being listed in several issues of school calendars and Monday Messenger newsletters. “School officials must refrain from using their positions to promote religious beliefs,” she stated.

In addition to what Simpkins said might amount to confusing MMS with a private school, she also wanted to know if any overtime for custodial charges would be billed back to MCF.

Simpkins, in emphasizing her take that the issue could become a “greater and bigger problem, causing a community divided,” cited an opinion from California’s 2nd Court of Appeals. That opinion purported that use of public schools for religious purposes is so divisive and creates such an appearance of entanglement that it continues to be litigated, ruling only last year that a school board’s refusal to allow school property for “religious worship” was permissible and indeed constitutional.

The agenda bill stated that the Board is allowed to make school facilities and grounds under its jurisdiction available as a civic center to citizens and community groups for a variety of activities and local needs, including religious services for such organizations that have “no suitable meeting place for the conduct of services.” As required by law, the bill submits, religious groups shall be charged at least direct costs.

The Board is prohibited from granting use of school facilities for any use by an individual or group dedicated to overthrowing the United States or State of California governments by force, violence or other unlawful means, uses that interfere with the regular conduct of school or school work, anything discriminatory as per legal definitions, or any uses that involve the possession, consumption or sale of alcoholic beverages or any restricted substances on school property.

Mammoth Christian Fellowship applied to use MMS facilities through the civic center permit process.

“Based on the limited facts presented, we conclude that the District may allow the Mammoth Christian Fellowship to use Mammoth Middle School,” Boccia said in the bill’s verbiage. “We further conclude that District employees may attend services of the Mammoth Christian Fellowship held at Mammoth Middle School without violating the Establishment Clause, if their participation is private or free speech, outside the sphere of their employment, and without the imprimatur of the District.”

According to Board Policy regarding Religious Organizations & School Facilities, “It is constitutional for a school district to rent facilities to religious organizations.” Education Code section 38131, subdivision (b), states: “The governing board of any school district may grant the use of school facilities or grounds as a civic center.”

Those findings were supported by the state’s Attorney General, which went on to add that “the governing board of a school district may indefinitely renew the temporary permit of a religious organization to conduct its services at a school facility.”

If approved, Boccia estimated the permit will generate approximately $40,000 a year to the MUSD budget. Those funds, he said, will support targeted students for expanded school day support in light of the recent news that the school district was not awarded a 21st Century Schools expanded programs grant.

Several area ministers turned out at the BOE meeting in a show of support for the church. MCF Pastor Mark Smith said the church could find space elsewhere, but wanted to throw its support behind the schools. “We think it’s a win-win,” he told The Sheet. “I think we’re getting a great deal and a great location, and the school gets some much-needed extra money in its General Fund.” Pastor Smith said he’s open to sitting down with Simpkins to work out any differences. “If she’d like to talk about it over some pancakes and coffee, I’d be absolutely ready and willing to sit down with them.”

“I’m not upset with Ms. Simpkins,” Boccia told The Sheet. “She’s challenging us to make sure our policies are all clean. Checks and balances, absolutely nothing wrong with that.”

The use of Mammoth Middle School facilities by local community church, Mammoth Christian Fellowship (MCF) has recently raised concern among at least a few parents.

On Thursday, Kelly and June Simpkins met with MUSD Superintendent Rich Boccia to find out why a church is allowed to hold its services on school property when public schools are expected to maintain a position of neutrality when it comes to religious views.

Boccia pointed out that according to school policy, which is bound by Education Code, the schools are allowed to rent out facilities to groups such as churches as long as the group is not meeting at the school when students are present. This type of rental program is operated under civic center permits.

Currently, Mammoth Christian Fellowship uses school facilities on Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday morning, according to Boccia.

The Simpkins were surprised by the use when June saw one of MCF’s signs on campus on a Sunday as she headed out of town. She called Boccia and then she and Kelly began asking around town to find out if anyone knew that MCF was operating at Mammoth Middle School. According to the Simpkins they have not found anyone who was aware of the use.

“We would like the public to know that this is happening so we can talk about it,” June said. “We don’t want to see the school sued.”

For the Simpkins, the discovery is reminiscent of another religious group they say operated on the school campus in 2008. A group that they said was called the “Good News Club” was operating on campus under the radar and “trying to create soldiers,” according to June. The couple admitted that this previous group was much more radical, but found it odd that a church was operating on campus once again during an election year.

“Is it coming from Florida,” June asked. “It’s an aberration of church and state. I know schools don’t have money but I’m not willing to sell my school.”

After speaking with Boccia, the Simpkins were somewhat relieved to hear that other groups such as girl scouts and boy scouts used the facilities with the same types of permits, but there were still questions that they wanted Boccia to answer.

“We weren’t aware that this happens regularly with permits,” Kelly said. “There might not be any problem.”

However, the Simpkins were still concerned that a recent school dance had taken place on a Friday when the church was meeting at the school. They were also concerned over the legality of a recent donation of a new automated projector screen to MMS from MCF. The donation was reported in the Feb. 20 Middle School Messenger.

Boccia asked for a week or two to look into the questions the Simpkins had and the legalities of the current board policy, and get back to them. The couple agreed. One solution the two parties discussed was compiling a list of the groups and organizations using school facilities and posting it in a public place for everyone to view.

Airport Commission reviews ALP, CIP and extra employees

The Mammoth Lakes Airport Commission continues to closely follow the Draft Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Update Narrative. The most recent update, which commissioners received at their Tuesday meeting from Town Associate Planner Jen Daugherty, was that consultants Mead and Hunt were contracted to respond to the technical comments on the ALP presented by members of the community.

Coinciding with the ALP update is the Town’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Program and Proposed Prioritization Criteria list.

Public Works Director Ray Jarvis presented the Commission with a working table showing potential Airport Capital Improvements for 2012-2021.

“The list will very easily change with the final ALP,” Jarvis said.

Two items on the list caught the Commissioner’s eyes.

First, commissioners weren’t so sure that terminal work should come before runway work and were concerned that the runway wasn’t even addressed until 2017.

“If the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] doesn’t fund the terminal, maybe they’d fund the runway and it would move up on the list,” stated Airport Director Bill Manning.

Commissioners also had questions relating to the abandonment of the Green Church, which had also made the list.

Manning explained to The Sheet that the abandonment of the building would only be necessary if the airport went from B3 to C3 status. At C3 status, public meetings would not be allowed that close to the airport, Manning said.  He clarified that the building, however, would not be destroyed.

“There would be no demolishing; people wouldn’t know where to turn,” he said of the landmark building many in the Eastern Sierra use for directional navigation (and science lectures!)

According to Manning, partners that use the Green Church for public meetings such as the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) were not against moving their meetings out of that location if necessary.

Results from Mead and Hunt will be available Feb. 13 according to Daugherty. Mead and Hunt representatives will be present at the Commission’s Feb. 28 meeting to discuss comments. Manning said the Commission could also expect more comments from the FAA before the ALP was finalized.

During Tuesday’s meeting Manning also updated commissioners on the airport’s budget.

“[Town] Finance is projecting a $1-2 million shortfall for next year’s [overall] budget and the MLLA settlement is still in the air,” Manning said. However, the airport wants to go from four full-time employees and one temp, to five full-time employees.

“The number of flights are really taking their toll,” Manning said. “We want consistency in staff.”

Commission Chair Pam Murphy asked what the fifth employee would end up doing during the summer when there is only one flight per day.

“A lot of stuff we’ve been putting off,” Manning said. “But we are a long way from getting it [extra employee] approved.”