Unwrapping the Debate: LH City Council’s Nativity Scene Controversy Sparks Community Reaction

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN— On Monday, November 25, 2024, the Lock Haven City Council convened with an overwhelming turnout that filled the council chambers beyond capacity. This turnout followed discussions stemming from the previous meeting regarding a Nativity scene planned for display at Triangle Park for the Christmas season. Attendees included city residents, members of the Clinton County Ministerium (CCM), local pastors, and other county residents. To accommodate those left standing, tables were moved forward, and as more people continued to arrive before the meeting was officially called to order, many were directed to adjoining rooms in City Hall, where they could only listen to the meeting due to the lack of available space.

During the November 18 City Council meeting, Pastor Joyce Bucknor of The Kingdom of Life Ministries expressed concern over a last-minute decision to exclude the display of a Nativity scene at Triangle Park despite a $10,000 investment from numerous church members spanning across Clinton County.

An agreement had been established between several community members and Downtown Lock Haven (DLH) Inc. in 2022 to display a Nativity scene at Triangle Park each year, which led members of the CCM to solicit donations to purchase the large Nativity, but this year, the display was sidelined by new management at DLH, who began to decorate the park without including the Nativity.

Council members stated at the prior meeting that while Triangle Park is city property, the Nativity display was coordinated through DLH Inc., and further stated that the new manager of DLH Inc. may have been unaware of the prior agreement.

Pastor Bucknor stressed that her efforts to contact the new DLH manager had been unsuccessful and questioned why there was no notification about the decision to exclude the Nativity scene from Triangle Park. This decision was made during a DLH board meeting, where members voted to exclude the Nativity, claiming it didn’t “fit the vision” for this year’s Christmas decorations. Bucknor learned of this decision at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, however, the City Council mandates that all requests to use city-owned property be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding a council meeting. This left the community members who funded the costly Nativity scene with no time to submit a request, despite an existing agreement that no additional use requests were necessary for displaying the Nativity at Triangle Park each year.

Council Member Dr. Jeffrey Brinker, providing context, explained that DLH’s “vision” for Triangle Park’s Christmas decorations had changed, leading them to vote to relocate the Nativity scene to a less prominent location such as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on E. Main Street. This suggestion troubled community members who had collectively raised $10,000 to purchase the Nativity display specifically for Triangle Park. Additionally, members of St. Paul’s never agreed to host the Nativity scene on their property.

At the November 18 meeting, Mayor Joel Long recommended that the CCM submit a formal request to the city for the Nativity scene’s display at Triangle Park. This request would allow council members to vote on its approval during their meeting on Monday, November 25, despite a previous agreement regarding Nativity’s placement at Triangle Park stemming from 2022.

Once the agenda for Monday night’s meeting was posted on the City’s website, locals quickly spread the word about the controversy on social media. Community members raised questions about who has jurisdiction over Triangle Park, who made the decision to exclude the Nativity, and why the City Council did not allow its display. The prevailing question amongst locals was why, if DLH needed the city’s permission to decorate Triangle Park, the Nativity scene was excluded.

DLH Inc. Manager Melissa Dally attended the meeting on Monday and explained that there was a miscommunication regarding the Nativity display, which she claimed was mistakenly included in DLH’s use request for holiday decorations to be displayed at Triangle Park. She suggested placing the Nativity at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as an alternative location for the Nativity or, rather than displaying the community-funded $10,000 Nativity set, organizing a live Nativity to attract more people to downtown Lock Haven.

“Downtown Lock Haven is not responsible for permitting the Clinton County Ministerium to display or not to display the Nativity. We are a private organization who goes through the process of submitting use requests to the city council for our beautification projects just like any other organization,” she said.

Dally mentioned that Senior Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, who has been instrumental in raising funds and helping to set up the Nativity since 2022, contacted her after the November 18 council meeting to inform her that he and other community members were ready to start setting up the Nativity at Triangle Park. In response, Dally told Stankiewicz that she needed to consult with the DLH Executive Committee regarding the installation of the Nativity.

“After conferring with the executive committee, I called Bill back that day and let him know that the Nativity is not part of Downtown Lock Haven’s decorations, as we do not own the nativity; therefore, it does not fall under our use request or insurance because it is not Downtown Lock Haven’s property. The Clinton County Ministerium can request to display something on city property anywhere within the business district, just as Downtown Lock Haven did,” Dally said.

Dally highlighted DLH’s vision for this year’s Christmas decorations— a gingerbread village attraction to increase foot traffic downtown in an effort to improve the downtown economy. Dally exemplified this vision, referring to Candy Cane Lane in Williamsport, Dickens Christmas in Wellsboro, and Victorian Bellefonte. “This Vision is to build a place-making attraction to increase foot traffic in Lock Haven and to improve the economy for our residents and local businesses, which is my job,” Dally said.

Dally went on to state that she had done her part in accordance with the use of city-owned property and as the manager of DLH, but has been met with harassment in response.

Next to address the council was Pastor Joyce Bucknor, who also serves as the secretary of the CCM. “I know of no harassment. I have three of the CCM executive administrators here, pastors here, and we have never contacted her. There’s been no harassment [from CCM] whatsoever,” she said.

Bucknor reiterated that the nativity set was purchased by the community, not the churches. “This was something that was purchased by the community,” she said. “The city came to us and asked us to purchase this particular nativity set, which came close to $10,000, so what you’re looking at is a community thing. Had we known this wasn’t going to be something that was a continual thing, then we wouldn’t have put that much money into it.”

Bucknor also highlighted that she received a call from a trustee at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, who informed her they had heard that the CCM wanted to place the Nativity set on their property, which St. Paul’s had not authorized. Bucknor clarified, “I said it was not us. There is a lot of he-said, she-said going around. What I understand is that there was a decision made, people knew about the Nativity set, but at the last minute, they told us. Now, because of the size of the Nativity set, there is really no other place to have it.” She re-emphasized that the Nativity was specifically designed and funded for Triangle Park based on an agreement made in 2022.

Reverend Gary Shumway, President of the Clinton County Ministerium, addressed the council to provide context on the Nativity display’s origins. He explained that both churches and individuals had contributed donations to cover the $10,000 cost. During the planning stage, the CCM wanted the Nativity placed in a prominent location where it would be widely visible, making Triangle Park an ideal location, as it would represent the community’s sense of peace, joy, and hope during the Christmas season.

Reverend Shumway reiterated Bucknor’s points, noting that the Ministerium was under the impression the Nativity would be displayed at Triangle Park annually, which compelled their significant financial investment. “When people come past it, we were hoping that they would see this community as a source of hope, and that’s why we wanted to have it at Triangle Park from the beginning, and we were under the impression it was going to be there each year,” he said.

Jim Stout, a resident of Castanea who has a Lock Haven address, attempted to speak next, but Mayor Joel Long did not permit him, stating, “When we started this, we said we would allow the residents of Lock Haven or taxpayers of Lock Haven [to speak].”

Another resident of Lock Haven echoed the previously mentioned size of the nativity, which makes it difficult to display at alternative locations, and noted that it was designed and sized specifically for placement at Triangle Park, given the established tradition of displaying it there. “It sounds like it was kicked off by the city,” the resident stated before Mayor Long asserted, “It was not by the city,” he said, “the Downtown Lock Haven manager; I’m just trying to clarify,” leading to further confusion about who presides over Triangle Park.

Amid a lively crowd of community members eager to address the council, perhaps the most impactful statements came from Lock Haven City resident Daniel Workman, who managed to silence both the crowd and the council alike with his remarks.

“I just feel like gingerbread does not represent Christ’s birth,” Workman said, which compelled the audience to erupt in cheers and applause. He continued, “If you’re not gonna celebrate Christ, then don’t even celebrate Christmas. I just think that a gingerbread house does not represent Christ’s birth… Christ’s birth is so much more than that.” Once again, Workman’s words struck a chord, drawing even more exuberant cheers from the crowd. Based on observance, if the majority of meeting attendees hadn’t been standing to begin with, Workman’s statements would have brought them to their feet anyway.

Mayor Long offered a rebuttal after Workman mentioned that there’s always been a Nativity scene in Lock Haven, but Workman continued. With heavy emotion in his voice, he said, “It breaks my heart that we even need to be having this conversation right now.” Mayor Joel Long, aiming to move the meeting forward, added his statements before choosing the next person to address council members.

“It’s ‘Haven Holidays’ for a reason,” Long said. “I’m a Christian, and I live in Lock Haven. Christmas isn’t the only holiday that’s happening during this time, and we represent more than just Christians in the city of Lock Haven. There are Jewish people that live in Lock Haven, and frankly, that doesn’t represent them. There are lots of people who make up our system; we represent them all. I want to correct [this] because there’s this illusion that there’s always been a Manger there, but there hasn’t,” Mayor Long declared.

Other city residents chimed in to add that Triangle Park needs to be more inclusive of other religions with its display. Aly Di Costanzo, added, “I am not of this religion, so I would also love to be represented in my downtown Lock Haven. I think gingerbread is a wonderful secular thing that can represent the entire community, not just parts of the community.”

“I’m talking about being inclusive of other religions downtown. I have not said my religion, and I will not. There are other religions that I believe should be inclusive; we shouldn’t have just one religion that represents our entire community. I personally know hundreds of people [who are] citizens in our town that are not of this religion who also want to be represented and feel welcome in their downtown,” Di Costanzo said.

Mary Jo Kline, a Beech Creek resident, addressed the council and clarified that although she no longer lives in the city, she was born and raised in Lock Haven. She made this clarification following Mayor Long’s dismissal of the Castanea resident who wanted to speak during the public comment period. Kline emphasized that although her family lives outside the city limits, they frequently contribute to downtown Lock Haven and deserve a voice in the matter. “We spend our money in downtown Lock Haven, and we come shopping every holiday season. Our voices should be heard just as well as others. We keep this city going too; it’s not just the [city] taxpayers,” Kline said.

Kline advocated for the inclusion of county residents outside the city who support downtown Lock Haven, stressing that their voices should also be heard when it comes to the city’s decisions.

Vice President Steve Stevenson acknowledged the passion in the room regarding the Nativity display. His belief was that there was a misunderstanding and a lack of communication between the new DLH manager and the CCM. Stevenson proposed that DLH share Triangle Park this year and clarified that the gingerbread display was not intended to replace religious symbols such as the Nativity. He emphasized that he does not view the gingerbread display as an attack on religion but rather a misunderstanding and cautioned against “rhetoric and abstractions,” encouraging the community to work together. “We have to respect each other,” Stevenson said. “And I wasn’t speaking for all of the council, but I will make a motion that we allow the Nativity set in Triangle Park for this year.”

Dr. Jeffrey Brinker shared his perspective, expressing that he believes the nativity display is something the community should embrace and that it does not detract from the gingerbread theme or other Christmas decorations at Triangle Park. He encouraged DLH Manager Melissa Dally, stating, “look around the room,” to observe the number of people present in support of keeping the nativity set at its original location and to find a way to incorporate it rather than relegating it to a church parking lot or alley.

Brinker asserted that the nativity set should be displayed in a visible location in Lock Haven, noting that members from over 14 churches, as well as many other community donors, contributed financially to purchase it. “I understand why the Ministerium wants it at Triangle Park; Lock Haven is the county seat, and they want it here,” he said. “The reason they chose here is because this is the County Seat, and I think we should honor that.”

Mayor Long questioned why the Ministerium would not want to share the Nativity with other communities in Clinton County, suggesting that it could be moved to a different location each year. As an example, he proposed Riverview Park as a potential site, but his suggestion was met with resounding “No’s” from the crowd.

In her closing remarks, DLH Manager Melissa Dally reiterated her earlier suggestion of an alternative to the CCM’s Nativity set, proposing that a live Nativity could attract visitors to downtown. She also mentioned a church that conducted a light show with music during the holidays, adding, “I’m just saying those attractions… that’s what brings people in.”

Before the roll call vote on whether to allow the Nativity scene to be displayed at Triangle Park, Council Member Heather Alexander shared that, following the November 18 council meeting, she initially planned to vote in favor of the Nativity scene at the park. However, she has since changed her position, stating, “I consider myself a Christian. I may not go to church every Sunday, but I consider myself a Christian. My vote has changed after the unpleasant things that I have heard and seen, and the countless messages and visits to my job. So, because I feel like we’re being bullied, my vote now is no.”

Without hesitation, Kasey Dumm, Director of Community Life, initiated the roll call vote, starting with Council Member Tami Brannan. Brannan stated, “I also refuse to bow down to intimidation, harassment, and threats, so it is no.”

Council Member Rick Conklin asked Dally if there was enough space for the Nativity at Triangle Park. Dally responded, “This isn’t my decision; it’s the city’s. If you walk by, you’ll see there’s grass to place it at this point.”

Conklin stressed his feeling that he was “incredibly embarrassed” by what community members conveyed to the council during the meeting. “I am appalled at this kind of definition of Christianity that I see all the time and that I preach against on a regular basis. In spite of that, I’m voting in favor because I believe there’s space for it, but I am not making promises for the future,” he said.

Before casting his vote, Mayor Joel Long acknowledged the passion of those who had addressed the council but expressed his disdain for what he perceived as aggression from some speakers. “We do this because we love our city just like those of you who live in it do as well, and we came here to consider this,” he said. “All I know is that there are many people that probably should go to church and ask for forgiveness… but in the spirit of cooperation, I’ll vote yes.”

During the roll call vote, Council Members Tami Brannan, Barbara Masorti, and Heather Alexander voted in opposition to allowing the Nativity to be displayed at Triangle Park this year. In contrast, Council Members Rick Conklin, Steve Stevenson, Dr. Jeffrey Brinker, and Mayor Long voted in favor, thereby permitting the CCM to display the Nativity set at Triangle Park this year by majority vote.