FACILITIES

No Facilities Master Plan – (Dyer UMC – Aug. 2014)

The church currently has two properties: the existing church and the property on the south side of Dyer. While the church initially intended to relocate, the relocation has not happened for a variety of reasons. Currently the church supports two properties with no vision-based master plan that determines the best use of either property. At the same time, the church has a debt of $631,000 including the South property and pays approximately $48,000 a year on the mortgage. At the current rate of repayment, it will take almost 40 years to complete the payment of the debt, which will most likely prevent the expansion of ministry and outreach.

Additionally, the current church building is cluttered, with a variety of items that have accumulated over time. Some areas of the church need to be updated and redecorated and the children’s classrooms smell musty. The church needs to determine a Master Plan for the two facilities and determine what location will provide the best ministry setting for accomplishing the mission and vision of Dyer UMC.

Determine A Facilities Master Plan

A. The Trustees will do a facilities audit of the church building by October 15, 2014, and make a list of areas that need to be uncluttered and/or refurbished so that the church has clean, updated space for its ministries by Easter of 2015.

B. Following the adoption of the vision, the pastor in consultation with the coach will create a Task Force of at least eight people with representatives from Children’s and Youth teams, N.O.A.H., Trustees, Finance, Administrative Council, the Lay leader, and the Pastor. The Task Force will focus on the following areas:

1. Based on the adopted mission and vision of the church, the Task Force will develop a Facilities Master Plan that will delineate which property or properties are best needed to fulfill the mission and vision of the church.

2. The Task Force will need to explore the financial needs of any decision and recommend a feasible funding plan to fulfill the Facilities Master plan.

3. If any properties are to be sold, built, or remodeled, the Task Force will make such recommendations to the Trustees based on the mission and vision of the church.

C. The Task Force will make their recommendations to the Trustees and the Administrative Board following all the provisions of the Book of Discipline. The Task Force will present the Facilities Master Plan by April 1, 2016.

MINISTRY CHALLENGES WITH CURRENT FACILITIES – (Bloomington First – Oct. 14)

FUMCB/Open Door is blessed with facilities that offer the congregation and the downtown community an oasis of beauty and shelter, connecting multiple groups for worship and ministry.The recent remodeling project affords the church additional space for offices, fellowship, education and children’s ministry. The consultation team affirms the engagement of an architectural firm to do a thorough structural assessment of the facility.However, we heard repeatedly that the facility has many challenges that hinder effective ministry including:

  • Space for fellowship gatherings far removed from the worship space;
  • Multiple entry points to the building that are confusing to guests;
  • Lack of a space that would appropriately house a welcome center;
  • And multiple spaces that are underutilized because their function lacks flexibility.

An assessment of ministry needs will help to develop a plan for maximizing the use of the current facilities for effective ministry and the exciting future God is placing before you.

STRATEGIC MINISTRY PLAN FOR FACILITIES

A Building Committee, that may include current members of the building study and the property study committee, will be nominated by the Lead Pastor in consultation with the coach on or before February 28, 2015, through Charge Conference action according to the Book of Discipline paragraph 2543. It will evaluate the current facilities including Open Door for carrying out the Mission in the 21st century and assess:

  • the present usage of the building;
  • the conditions of interior and exterior facilities;
  • interior and exterior signage;
  • the future of the former post office property;
  • future maintenance needs; and
  • future usage and spaces needed to accomplish the Intentional Ministry Plan.

They will report to the Church Council quarterly on their progress and then to the Charge Conference with a specific plan for implementation, by March 31, 2016.

Facilities Limitations (Corinth – Feb. 2014)

The church has begun to grow numerically which is to be celebrated, especially the 16 new professions of faith and 14 baptisms in 2013. Growth brings challenges, and one of those challenges is the limitation of the physical facilities at Corinth UMC. Many classrooms are small and crowded. The preschool will have limited growth in its current facilities. The worship space presents challenges of its own. The lower level lacks adequate functionality for the current or future needs of the congregation. There is not a welcoming gathering space on the main level. Finally, there does not appear to be a formal, long-term strategic maintenance plan for the building, the Gathering Place, or the new parsonage, so the trustees seem to work in reaction mode rather than being proactive in providing facilities that are welcoming.

Facilities Assessment and Recommendations for the Future

The Pastor, in consultation with the coach, will establish a Facilities Assessment Team of not more than 9personsafter approval of the vision. Based on the vision, the team will study the current usage of the facilities, the demographics of the surrounding community from the MissionInsite report as well as projection of the future space needs of the ministries of Corinth UMC. This facility team will:

  1. Consult with Rev. Jill Wright, one of the Weekend Assessment Team, Pastor of Robinson Chapel UMC, who will share her church’s process for assessing facilities for future ministry;
  2. Read the book, Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Messageby Nancy DeMott, Tim Shapiro and Brent Bill, and view the video, Sacred Space, Discern Decide Do by the Indianapolis Center for Congregations;
  3. Visit four to five other congregations who have reached maximum effectiveness in their facilities and have successfully adapted, remodeled and/or replaced existing facilities to increase ministry fruitfulness;
  4. Meet with the leadership of each ministry group that currently uses the facilities to determine the current and future needs of those ministries;
  5. Compile its findings and formulate recommendations for addressing facility needs at Corinth UMC;
  6. Present its recommendations to the Administrative Board for support and implementation on or before September 30, 2015. (Any plan to remodel or build must follow the process defined for all UM Churches as outlined in the 2012 Book of Discipline)