Growing Woodlawn Church’s plans to rent Jackson High School prompts resident concern
JACKSON TWP. – Some residents in Jackson Township are expressing concerns over Woodlawn Church’s decision to rent space at Jackson High School for worship services. The church, located at 2800 Woodlawn Ave. NW, will be temporarily using the school building starting March 17 while they undergo expansion.
Woodlawn Church recently sent out hundreds of postcards informing the community about their plans, which has garnered mixed reactions. Some residents have raised questions about whether a church should be allowed to utilize a public school that receives tax dollars.
The issue of religious organizations renting space from public school systems is not new, as several churches in Stark County have opted for this arrangement instead of constructing their own permanent structures.
Critics on social media voiced their apprehension, with one commenter expressing their disapproval by stating, I don’t think bringing them into buildings that house publicly funded schools is an OK thing to do. Another taxpayer even threatened to withhold support for school tax issues, arguing against subsidizing any religious group with tax dollars.
In response, the Rev. Matthew Matt Coutcher, lead pastor of Woodlawn Church, emphasized the positive impact the church aims to make in the community. He noted that both he and his family reside in Jackson and his children attend Jackson Local schools. Coutcher’s wife, the Rev. Chrissy Coutcher, also serves as a co-pastor.
As a church, we always strive to make a positive impact on our community, he stated. Throughout the year, we are involved in many service projects helping various organizations and people in our community. Our heart is to love God and share that love in our community and abroad. Over the last 10 years, our church has grown to the point where we’ve run out of room in our current facility.
Woodlawn Church has been conducting three services on Sunday mornings to accommodate their growing congregation, which has expanded from 300 members to over 900 in recent years.
While we’ve been actively working to find a solution to our facility limitation, such as building an extension or locating another building, it hasn’t been economically viable or successful, Coutcher explained. That’s why we decided to temporarily rent space.
Coutcher believes reaching out to the school district was a logical step, considering the church’s location in Jackson Township. Many schools remain vacant on Sundays, making them attractive options for churches in need of additional space.
Other churches in the area have adopted similar strategies, utilizing school buildings temporarily while constructing their own facilities. MissionView Church in North Canton, for instance, rented Hoover High School’s auditorium for many years before eventually purchasing its own building in 2022. The First Baptist Church of Jackson also rented school space before constructing a facility of its own.
Woodlawn Church plans to make some minor renovations to its current facility to improve foot traffic patterns and seating. The high school will serve as an alternate location until the renovations are complete. The church intends to continue holding services at both the high school and its renovated facility throughout 2024 while actively seeking a permanent solution.
Todd Porter, Jackson Local’s communications director, addressed the concerns raised by residents regarding the arrangement with Woodlawn Church. He emphasized that the church’s services at the high school occur outside of school hours and do not raise any church-and-state issues.
Under board policy, school premises can be made available for community purposes, as long as it does not interfere with the educational program and is harmonious with the district’s goals, Porter explained.
The final rental fee will be determined after a walk-through to determine the available spaces and organizational needs. Any necessary custodial fees will also be factored in.
Woodlawn Church’s decision to rent space at Jackson High School has sparked lively discussion among residents. As the church seeks to address its facility limitations, concerns have been raised about the use of taxpayer-funded spaces for religious activities. While Woodlawn Church maintains its positive impact on the community, dialogue surrounding the issue continues, reflecting differing opinions on the matter.
