Community members met last Thursday, Nov. 3, at the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Downieville for an open discussion regarding plans for the historic building. More than one local remarked on the great length of time since such a large group had gathered within the church walls as 46 interested persons filled the pews, some having traveled from outside the county to attend.

Downieville and Sierra City UMC’s pastor Jaime Rogers-Fairchild began the meeting by welcoming and thanking the attendees who braved sitting inside a cold sanctuary to voice their concerns and exchange ideas. Opening the discussion, she immediately clarified, “This is not a time for us to be making any decisions. No decisions will be made today on what happens with the church.”

Church attendance at the Downieville UMC has declined over the years. The last service held in the building was towards the end of 2019, with most duties and upkeep for maintaining a church building falling upon the shoulders of members Mike and Karen Galan. A logistical change in the winter of 2019 involved the Downieville congregation joining the folks up in Sierra City to meet under one roof for services led by Rogers-Fairchild. By spring 2020, plans for the UMC to resume regular services and re-open its doors in Downieville derailed due to covid.

The building could be rented to another party, sold, or handed over to the UMC conference office. Ultimately, interim Bishop Sally Dyck for the California Nevada Conference and the cabinet, composed of five District Superintendents, make the final decisions regarding any church property. Rogers-Fairchild reassured the group that she and Reverend Blake Busick- Downieville’s UMC District Superintendent for the Great Northern District, will take the community’s wishes to the leadership board.

Resident and attorney Ingrid Larson pointed out that the Methodist and the Assembly of God church previously shared the building for worship. The Assembly of God currently meets in the Downieville School cafeteria. She proposed a rental agreement with or selling the building to the existing Assembly of God church.

Subsequently, Pastor Loren Kelly of the Downieville AOG spoke and confirmed a strong interest in possible opportunities for his church to relocate to worship at the UMC location.

Corri Jimenez, Vice President of the Sierra County Historical Society and professional architectural historian, was asked to speak on the historical aspects of the church. Jimenez previously wrote the nomination for the 1931 Sierraville School and the 1860 Webber Lake Hotel in Sierra County to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. She previously suggested that the church be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and emphasized that a designation does not mandate future property protection. However, she did encourage the audience to execute a preservation easement because it is a stronger document on a local level. This document drafted by an attorney could be filed with the Sierra County Clerk-Recorder’s office with extra provisions and language preventing demolition or development of the building.

Not one person stood vocalizing a desire for the building to be torn down and turned into a parking lot, nor the building revamped into “another bar” or any similar venture.

Soul after soul stood and expressed their firm desire for the UMC building to remain a house of worship. The community now awaits an answer back from the bishop and the cabinet.