Opposition to Liquor License at Bear Butte

     In their April 18, 2006, quarterly meeting, the Board of Directors of the Association of Christian Churches of South Dakota voted to request the Meade County Board of Commissioners to reconsider the sale of a beer license to a company planning to open a campground at the base of Bear Butte.  This Butte is sacred to many Native American tribes, both in South Dakota and elsewhere.  Many Native Americans and others have spoken out against this proposed campgrounds and the Association has chosen to take a stand with them on this issue.

     The Association passed the following resolution and requested that  a letter be developed that the directors would be able to sign on to.  The resolution states that:  :  RESOLVED that the ACCSD requests that the Meade County Commission reconsider their decision to grant an alcoholic beverage permit and encourages the Commission to consider creating a four mile buffer zone around Bear Butte.

     The letter, read by Board President Rev. Gail Arnold, follows:

April 18, 2006

Commissioners
Meade County
1425 Sherman Street
Sturgis SD 57785

     We, the undersigned members of the Association of Christian Churches in South Dakota greet you.

     For many years, state and local governments have shown respect for our places of worship by establishing fair zoning practices and by exempting our properties that are used for worship and education from taxation. We indeed are grateful for what you and other county commissioners have done to protect the freedom of worship in this state.

     That is why we were surprised and dismayed to hear that you have granted an alcoholic beverage permit to an out of state entrepreneur for a Rally Park in the vicinity of Bear Butte State Park. We cannot conceive that such action would have been taken in the vicinity of a place sacred to persons of other faiths: e.g. The Vatican, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, or Mecca.

     Bear Butte has been and continues to be a sacred place of prayer and meditation for several Native American nations. The noise from a nearby rally park can only disrupt religious practices on Bear Butte.

     Therefore, we wish to add our voices to those of our Native American sisters and brothers.  We hope that you will reconsider your action and seek to protect this place of worship for Native Americans, indeed for all peoples of all faiths who come to this place to pray.

     We further urge you to consider establishing a four-mile buffer zone around Bear Butte to protect it from any further encroachment.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Gail Arnold, President of the Association, United Methodist
Cathy Brechtelsbauer, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Neshahl, Bishop of South Dakota District, The
Evangelical  Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Richard W. Fisher, United Methodist Member at Large
The Rev. Christian Franklin, Disciples of Christ
Marge Gross, Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota
The Rev Rev. Edward Kauffman, Executive Conference Minister Central Plains  Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Church USA
The Rev. Deborah Kiesey, Bishop of the Dakotas Area of The United Methodist Church
Dr. Gene Miller, Conference Pastor, United Church of Christ
Gary Nesdahl, Executive Director, Association of Christian Churches in South Dakota
Fr. Anthony Opem, Sioux Falls Diocese, Catholic Church
Carl P. Serr, retired Pastor - United Church of Christ - Sioux Falls
John H. Spruhan, Episcopal Diocese of SD Ecumenical Officer 

Letter sent from the desk of Richard Fisher
    12311 Whitetail Road
    Deadwood SD 57732 
    605-355-9532
    RiFish@aol.com

For more information about this issue, go {here} and follow the links.