January 20, 2012

Building Towards the Future 

We, the Strategic Planning Group, want to let you know the status of the Sanctuary update. As we discussed at the October church meeting, the sale of the first house paid off the last of the church’s debt. The remaining dollars were split between the Property and Strategic Planning committees in order to start some deferred maintenance and Sanctuary update projects. Other than those ongoing projects we have been waiting for the second house to sell. With the house now sold (and the money in the bank), we are ready to start the process of updating and remodeling the sanctuary.

As you might recall, the full Sanctuary remodel will cost approximately $500,000. This includes a new platform configuration, new seats, carpet, lighting, video, and sound room updates. It also involves painting and creating storage space to replace what we lose in the changes.

A decision we must make is:
Do we wait until all of the money is available? or

Do we break the project into steps that we do as funds are available?

As of today, the only step in progress is ordering new chairs for the sanctuary. The chairs are in accord with the whole plan, not something that will be outdated when the rest of the project is complete. The money for the seating is from a combination of gifts received and the sale of the first house.

We have received a lot of interest and feedback concerning the issues involved in the Sanctuary update. In this letter we will share some of those questions and statements and our explanations.

Why do the update at all?

We hear from a number of people that they are “here because of the teaching” and chairs and carpet do not matter to them. If you look at our sanctuary with a fresh set of eyes, it is dated and worn. There have been no significant updates since it was originally built. The colors are dated, the veneer on the pews is peeling, the carpet is worn and a hazard. The extensions on the platform, covered with artificial turf, are unsightly. We receive regular feedback from first time visitors on the look of our facility, and most of that feedback is negative. It really is time for an update to make it honoring to God.

Why chairs? Why not just refinish the pews?

We researched refinishing the pews several years ago. Believe it or not, the cost to refinish them was more than we are spending for chairs. In addition, chairs allow us the option to reconfigure the Sanctuary as needed for activities other than Sunday morning services. The youth currently use it once a week and would  like the ability to reconfigure the space. Maintaining the lights in the Sanctuary requires the use of ladders around the pews posing a danger. With chairs, we have the ability to use a man-lift, which is a much safer option. The final reasoning is that it updates the look of the room. The chairs ordered are wood based and have a fabric that goes with the carpet we plan to use when we reach that part of the update. We are working with a designer to make sure all changes are consistent.

How many new members or attendees will this update add to our church?

We can honestly say, “We don’t know.” We do know we get feedback stating that it looks like we don’t care when first time guests enter our sanctuary. The church has a comprehensive plan we are implementing, separate from this update, to meet, greet, and reach out to visitors with the end goal of assimilating them into the body here at Edgewood. That plan is the way to get them here and hold them, not new paint, chairs, and carpet. We understand that concept and are implanting it. The changes to the sanctuary are to make sure the facility is a safe, warm, and inviting place, welcoming visitors and allowing them to experience us and our mission and vision.

What about the deferred maintenance items? What is being done there?

We are working with the Property committee to make sure that maintenance issues are addressed as well. One of the major items is to fix the plumbing giving us good rust free water and working drinking fountains throughout the facility. Deferred maintenance is a part of both our short and long term plans.

Things we have told you in the past remain true today.

1. •We will not recommend the church take on any debt to do all or part of this process. We feel God has led us out of debt and is honored if we remain that way.
   

1. •We will go as fast or as slow as God leads us. As he provides a way to do this project we will try, in our leadership role, to keep up and not run ahead.
   

1. •We will not use capital funds to run the day-to-day operations of Edgewood.
   

We will continue to keep you informed and to give you a voice in the planning process. You want to know and be involved and we are sensitive to that.

On one hand we do not want to give incomplete or incorrect information and on the other hand it is a dynamic process and as plans are made you want details. We will try to balance those considerations.

We expect feedback from you as we go through this process together. While we can agree to have differing opinions we hope you give the committee and the Board of Elders credit for trying to honor God through it. This is not my project, not the committee’s project, the Staff’s project, or the Board’s project. It is our project and another way in which we, the members and regular attendees here at Edgewood, honor God by providing a facility in which to meet and worship regularly.

Respectfully,

Randy McCormack, Chairman, Strategic Planning Group