Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor @Blogfinger.net.
Once again the role of the CMA in the life of Ocean Grove has resurfaced. Re-post from Blogfinger.
This post first appeared June 2019 (see below) regarding how the CMA affects the life styles of secular residents in town.
On Sunday June 2, 2019 a religious event occurred that alarmed some residents who live near the Great Auditorium on Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove, NJ, USA.
The Liquid Church brought a crowd of religious tourists here for a morning service in the Great Auditorium. Apparently it was noisy, then lunch on the Pathway with 7 food trucks, and then later with baptisms on the beach. A usually quiet OG Sunday had changed. The Liquid Church was scheduled to be returning every Saturday night in July and August 2019.
This change raised these questions: Is Ocean Grove once again becoming a Christian town? Does the CMA have unlimited power to expand in ways that can impact the quality of life of all who live here? Does owning all the land give it that power?
Our 2019 article below gets into some of these issues:
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association used to run this town, but all that changed in 1980 when the N.J. Supreme Court turned over our historic village to the municipality of Neptune Township.
None of the “blue laws” were left in effect, except for bans on selling tobacco, sales of alcohol, and closing of the beach on Sunday mornings. There have been no coherent explanations for those bans and beach closures as initiated by a private group in a public town.
The CMA retained control over the beachfront and they actually own the boardwalk but not the sand underneath and they and others worked together to press FEMA in 2012 to help pay for the boardwalk restoration.
The Camp Meeting still owns most of the land in town as they pursue their religious “mission” which is growing year-round and has an effect on all who actually live in the Grove.
Interestingly, they have no membership list, so we don’t know how many residents in the Grove are committed to the CMA organization. Most of their supporters seem to be religious tourists, not counting those who only make contributions, support lucrative events, or stay silent when the CMA is criticized. In any case, it seems to us that the majority of citizens in town have a predominantly secular lifestyle.
As an example we buy season beach passes each year but almost never go to the beach. We do it consciously as a small offering to the CMA and we have contributed to their various funds, such as the Together Fund after Sandy. We even organized a fund raiser after Sandy with our Ocean Grove Film Festival, but we are basically secular full time residents with our own perspective about the town.
We are part of a community here of private residents who are mostly secular and who probably number over 5,000 if second homers are included. But, that group doesn’t have much influence.
So how does the CMA, a private religious organization, maintain the reigns of power here, in a democracy, to influence all the residents of this town?
Around 2011, Blogfinger became interested in the role of the CMA as it relates to the “community ” of Ocean Grove—ie the residents of the town.
We interviewed the President of the CMA. He said that this group would focus on its “mission” and not on the community of residents. That’s when I first learned that the CMA actually had a policy regarding the rest of the Grove.
After Sandy hit, the CMA stood tall to deal with the beachfront damage, but they also opened their arms to the secular OG community to help pay for it via the Together Fund. We were “one” at that time
2024 Perspective: Clearly the CMA is a sort of neighbor for all of us, but it is a peculiar sort. They have power and influence in Neptune that enables them to strong arm certain issues in the “Historic District” such as congestion, closing streets, parking dismay, land use (zoning aberrations,) pier construction, and illegal North End Redevelopment.
If we ask residents of OG the question: “What do you expect from the CMA?” we suspect that opinions will range from “nothing” to “a great deal.”
If you try to answer that question by thinking about the recent history of the CMA as neighbors in town, consider this summary below. It is a short list of how the CMA impacts all who live here.
a. They have lucrative large events through the year, especially during “prime time” which affect all of us who live here and which bring no money to help the entire OG community.
b. They bring in thousands of tourists for their religious based events, but also for the town- wide clogging mega-secular events on Ocean Pathway such as the “Giant Flea Market” They hope to extend their reach year-round.
c. They don’t care much about the secular residents in town as evidenced by their seeming indifference to issues that effect all of us, such as when they threatened to sue over permit parking before the conversation ever got out of the starting gate.
And you would think that they would be concerned about the Master Plan, Land Use abuses, historic preservation, and other matters that involve them. But they never speak out about these topics.
d. They were found to be guilty in 2007 of discrimination in the boardwalk Pavilion, and that stained the reputation of the entire town.
e. They have been intimately involved with the worrisome plans for the grotesque project at the OG North End.
f. Secular programming has been cut back at the GA.
Of course, there are many positive attributes for the entire town that stem from the CMA’s presence in the Grove such as: the 4th of July parade; Illumination Night; Christmas events; a clean and friendly beachfront; a wonderful summer mostly classical music program; and activities for families, kids and teenagers.
So, what do you think? Please comment below.
ELVIS: “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”
My friend I have been coming down to ocean grove for over 20 years.
I am a Christian a member of the Lutheran faith. I would never live or own a business in Ocean Grove. I do not support or believe in the piety – holiness movement that the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting subscribes to or teaches and I would never have a religious organization have control of the land under my house or business and being told how the way I am suppose live or conform to the way of their interpretation of being a Christian should be.
Thomas A. Hatfield: The shift by the CMA on Saturday nights was supposedly done for financial reasons, but it seems to be part of an overall “change in direction” as you point out.
We came to Ocean Grove with respect for its spirituality, but also we happily noticed a change in demographics which suggested that a nice balance was developing. After all, who wants to live in a town with the realistic nickname of “Ocean Grave?”
We were feeling optimistic about all this until a few years ago, and the recent decision to stop the bulk of secular concerts is like the canary in the coal mine and may be more dangerous for the town than meets the eye.
I plan to write a piece on this subject, but the CMA should consider looking over its shoulder as it shifts gears and pay attention to the residential segment of OG demographics, both full time and part time, and renters.
You reference a “sense of community and fun” and you are right; On Blogfinger we have been talking about that sort of thing ourselves, framed in the term “life-styles.”
Stay in touch; your voice needs to be heard.
Paul
My wife and I and our friends always enjoyed the secular entertainment at the GA on Saturdays and, quite frankly, don’t understand the change in direction. It is regrettable and detracts from the sense of community and fun that attracted us to Ocean Grove. ELO, Grassroots, the Buckinghams, the Guess Who, et. al, were all exceptional shows and hey, we’re all baby boomers who love our rock and rock. Bring it back.
I have no religious affiliation or agenda. I did hear from many in my neighborhood who do, and they seemed puzzled to upset to angry about this thing. I didn’t see any CMA presence during this event. The Chamber was absent as well. No tent with CMA info. No promoting programs like the classical series, organ recitals or the various other CMA sponsored events, youth programs, etc.
The presence of food trucks certainly doesn’t help local businesses. Why visit downtown when they don’t need to? They don’t tour the Town and all it’s charms except to search for parking which makes it even harder for the residents.
So where was the ‘Methodist’ message in all this?
The neighbors are also quite concerned that for two months the town will become “Liquefied'”
I’ve seen bumper stickers that proclaim “Don’t try to change Ocean Grove…Let Ocean Grove change you!”
I respect and honor that, but also look for reciprocal respect from the CMA, i.e. listening to the concerns of its many homeowners. When it comes to an open dialogue regarding parking, beachfront development, etc, I don’t remember ever being invited to a CMA meeting, but receive an envelope asking for a donation.
I’d love for homeowners to be part of planning what is best for the town and CMA…i.e. Liquid Church in the Grove. Might be great income for Sat nights, if that is what the CMA is looking for, we may never know.
P.S. I hope the Saturday night services will not use a booming sound system like this past Sunday service. If so, CMA may need a new bumper sticker?
Regarding the “invasion” of the Liquid Church, one resident contacted us and said, “This is a blatant abuse of residents of Ocean Grove. “
Frank: In this post we have not asserted that the CMA should or would change. They are clearly sticking to their mission and, in fact, are going deeper into that mission.
The purpose of this post is to describe what they are doing and what they might be planning to do in the future.
The question is how will the secular residential population respond to all this?
I believe that there is no other town in the US like Ocean Grove. So the dynamics of all this is fascinating, unpredictable, and worthy of study and discussion (that’s what we do.)
Without some outside intervention, or the emergence of activism on the part of the resident community (including law suits,) it’s likely that apathy will rule and the CMA and the Township will continue to do whatever they want to when it comes to Ocean Grove.
I think that you can expect exactly what is being complained about in most of the comments already listed.
The CMA is celebrating their 150th anniversary and their mission hasn’t changed much since the town was founded. I think they have been actually very straightforward about their mission and plans. If you attend the opening service this coming Sunday you can hear exactly what to expect because they state it at every service.
I believe the CMA has no intention of changing just because there are more secular residents. I don’t believe there is any incentive for them to change, and for those that expect a change, you might be happier in a shore town that is much closer to your needs.
For those that want to stay and change the CMA’s approach, good luck.
If you pay taxes directly, or through a landlord, you are entitled to the same benefits that everyone else gets though their taxes. Simple, right? But LGBT folk in OG did not get that equality. They fought it in the courts, and won.
I expect that the CMA would join a unified front in focusing on land use, bolstering the fight against Asbury Park, which is taking Ocean Grove’s land use away from it. CMA: Snap out of it, and focus on land use.
There are some rich guys barking in the CMA ear. It’s why the Boardwalk gets drenched in funding, and why Wesley Lake remains with it’s 1919 status; surely overflowing with filth and destruction with the next Sandy. It will still be polluted, rusting and rotted, while certain CMA supporters stroll with great pleasure.
They can see themselves they as Christ’s followers, but I see corruption, revenge and hard-hearted Hannahs wrecking squalid thoughts upon the secular contributors to Ocean Grove.
The CMA leadership is totally self-interested, and that is what we can expect from them.
There is a core group of followers that love the tents and the culture, volunteer with gardening around town and the events sponsored by the CMA, and in many cases have been here for generations.
The leadership is a different story. The Trustees are not necessarily connected here on a regular basis, are largely represented by a reactionary, homophobic, fundamentalist ideology. They could care less about the residents of Ocean Grove – we are not their constituency. So they could care less about how we view parking problems, the appalling North End development, or local reaction to their offensive Sunday speakers. We are pretty much aliens as far as they are concerned.
I think they are really lousy neighbors.
Dr. Finger,
You got me started with photo of volunteers and how CMA “stood tall” after Sandy.
To answer your question of what can we expect: OGCMA will continue with their mission – making money (mostly from non-religious sources like the beach, ground rent, secular concerts, etc.).
Surfer. Thank you for itemizing your complaints about the CMA, but that isn’t what we are looking for.
The question we raised was “What can/should we the people expect from the CMA as we interact in the Grove?
I expect that those who represent the residents of OG to take a stand with Neptune looking for ways to make our town better for all of us. To insure that properties are maintained and development is well thought out.
Improved parking for residents is a basic need. A resident sticker might inhibit neighboring town visitors from parking in OG but spending dollars in other places.
Not allowing OG to be the piggy bank for the rest of Neptune.
And changing with the time,such as opening the beach earlier on Sunday,considering updating the entertainment options to draw a younger crowd or doing away with it all together so parking improves.
OGCMA, Ocean Grove Counting Money Association, deserves no praise for post-Sandy recovery. Having made millions from beach fees, they should have had a “war chest” for emergencies. They should have employed local workers to clean up the beach and boardwalk. But, why pay people when you can get volunteers?
Then, OGCMA raised $1.5 million from donations to the Together fund to make repairs claiming “FEMA is not giving us money.” But, lest we forget, OGCMA later got millions from FEMA.
OGCMA charges “ground rent” which is supposed to be used to maintain common grounds in town. For most of us, this amount is insignificant. However, for houses and condos built since 2000, some are paying over $1000/year now to OGCMA (and then they pay taxes to Neptune). OGCMA employs people to cut the grass, which is lousy east of Ocean Ave (compare Bradley Beach and other towns), and has volunteers on the Beautification Committee take care of all the flowers.
None of their programs, secular or religious, interest me. I only enjoy the beach, which probably could be managed more efficiently by the township (compare AP, BB, Avon, Belmar).