I am a member of the Celebration Community Beach Church.  On Sundays, my family and I go to Cambier Park to enjoy the sermon from Pastor Gene Scott.   

Background

Celebration Church holds services at the Cambier Park band shell each Sunday, unless another activity is scheduled for the park on that day.   

Services began at Lowdermilk Park in March 1997.  After some turmoil, the city moved the congregation out of Lowdermilk Park to Cambier Park at the end of 2000 because of noise issues in the Coquina Sands neighborhood.  The move was to be temporary until the church found a permanent home.  But due to the unique atmosphere of an outdoor church, the parishioners overwhelming voted to stay in the park and not build an indoor church.  

Celebration signed its first lease with the city on October 5, 1999, and maintained an annual lease with the City until 2005.  In 2005, Celebration signed a five-year lease for the use of Cambier Park.   

In October 2009, the City acted a year early in response to public pressure to renew the lease for another five-year term, through 2015. 

Separation of Church and State

The City acted a year early because some citizens were concerned about the Constitutional issues regarding the separation of church and state.  The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” which means two things.   

First, the City cannot in anyway help or promote a particular religion.  Second, it means that the city cannot place a substantial burden on an individual or group attempting to exercise their right to religion in public. 

Some Neapolitans thought that by allowing Celebration to use the park, the City was establishing religion.  However, Celebration had to go through the same process that all other groups (i.e. Naples Art Association, Girl Scouts, Sailing School and Gators' football team to name a few) must go through in order to obtain a permit to use the park.  This process is meant to regulate the health, safety and welfare of the community and not to promote or disenfranchise any particular group, thus the regulations are Constitutional. 

Additional Benefits to the City

·     Celebration pays for its use of the park and the City covers the out of pocket costs, particularly because Celebration takes such good care of the park – always leaving it clean and ready for the next user. 

·     The lease with the city is non-exclusive, so Celebration has to vacate the park when the city has other events scheduled on Sunday mornings.  

·     Celebration Beach Church is unique to Naples.  There are not many other outdoor churches in our region and certainly none in a setting as nice as Cambier Park.  It is my belief that the church contributes to the unique charm and character of Our Naples. 

As always, please email your thoughts to me on this vital issue or anything else you believe will add to the ambiance of Our Naples.