Skip to main content

Taking the ‘Christ’ Out Of Gilchrist: Churches not viable without parking

March 27, 2025
By Staff Report

BY PETER SODERBERG

Many of those of us deeply engaged with the three churches on Gilchrist Avenue are aghast by our reading of the draft of your parking ordinance to be signed by Commissioner Kevin Ruane that is circulating out here on far-distant Boca Grande. Apparently, we are a remote outpost too far from Fort Myers for Commissioner Ruane to venture out and meet in an open public forum with our residents, our merchants and our community leaders to hear first-hand what goes on out here. 

Commissioner Ruane’s assertion as to the many meetings he has had out here may be true, but how representative are these “fact-finding” efforts when the only voices he has heard are echoes of the same, small group of 20 or so elite and empowered neighbors, who would have our Island turned into their semi-private sanctuary? A striking example of this lack of factual familiarity is embodied in his draft ordinance that “hereby prohibits parking on … Gilchrist Avenue median between 5th Street and 3rd Street except between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday”. 

Commissioners, let me herewith provide the facts of life for modern churchdom today as I believe are practiced here on our small Island:

  1. We three Gilchrist Christian churches have no parking space allocated to us either on the front or on the sides for our respective churches, yet a number of our adjacent neighbors have been permitted to build curb lawns on the public rights-of-way so that no one can park in front of their houses. Not only have we lost about 65 parking spaces between 1st and 5th to these curb lawns, but several of these neighbors now take the opportunity to park in the few curbside spaces available in front of our churches. 
  2. Our churches operate seven days a week, with very few events on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoons… peak times for median beach parking. 
  3. Speaking with respect to (but not on behalf of) our Lighthouse United Methodist Church (which I believe is directionally representative of our two “sister” churches), much of what allows us to deliver our missional outreach, our community engagement and our operational functioning takes place not just on Sunday morning but as follows (for a total of all of the 17 weeks between January 1 and April 30, 2025):
  • Two weddings on Friday or Saturday (one at 10 a.m. and the other at 2 p.m.), and two memorial services on these two days.
  • Mondays thru Thursdays are the core of our work week, when many small group meetings (requiring little parking on the median) occur: prayer groups; church council meetings; church committee meetings; ministerial office hours; and choir and praise group practices.
  • During the same period some larger events occur and are generally conducted in the morning or at lunch time including: United Women in Faith meetings and lunch; community pancake breakfasts for six weeks between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.; Strawberry Festival set-up and planning; memorial services; and religious holidays and events such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Christmas Eve.
  • Children’s after-school programs
  • Because of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, hopefully a disaster response which you will recognize as such, we have opened our doors to the following groups: The Boca Grande Woman’s Club; Garden Club; Royal Palm Players, Johann Fust Library; and Young Life.
  • Commissioner Ruane, which of these historical and important Christian duties would you ask us to give up? Is there really a legitimate basis to believe we are a material part of the Gilchrist area parking problem given our limited use as detailed above? We are Christian churches serving diverse communities who value our engagement and outreach. Please tell us why and on what basis you feel it is appropriate that you attempt to ignore historical precedents we have utilized since our beginnings to enable the building of these three successful ministries we enjoy today. 

We churches are not viable without access to convenient parking for our congregants and community using our facility. I believe we are prepared to assist you in mitigating the Gilchrist parking problem; however, we have a fiduciary duty to defend our historical right to practice our Christian outreach. I believe you will find enough of us who share this determination, even if it means protracted litigation. We would much rather spend our money on serving God through service, solicitude, and mission.

Finally, let me speak very personally about how I think Christ might feel about Commissioner Ruane’s exclusionary efforts to favor a select few, which will impact citizens near and far seeking to enjoy our God-given beautiful beach. Truly Christ would say to us: “Yes, you must do something about chaotic and unsafe parking, but no, you cannot deny your brethren reasonable and safe access to the beauty of your Gulf and your beaches.” Is there no other solution to better organize parking on the median and the side streets than draconian parking prohibition? By taking “Christ” out of GILchrist we would be left with GIL Avenue, which can only stand for “Get out of our Island Life.” Is this the message Lee County Commissioners would wish to stand behind? And from the Bible …

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” Romans 12:16

The churches invite all of you to our island the week of April 14, just before Easter and the exodus of many of our neighbors, to listen to your community and reflect on our realities.

We will receive you with respect and an expectation of open ears and minds by all.