Building Phase II
Background
The Building Committee was commissioned by a Charge Conference on June 21, 2007.
The initial objective was to undertake a “Study Phase” to determine the scope of the next building phase.
The committee was comprised of clergy (2), staff (5) and laity (9).
The committee met over 20 times between August, 2007 and June, 2008.
Congregational Involvement
The Building Committee’s consultants interviewed staff and laity about worship, music and the arts, children’s, youth and adult education, fellowship, facilities, administration, outreach and congregational care.
Minutes from each committee meeting were forwarded to Leadership Council.
Members of the Building Committee were present at the model during worship service for 2 months to receive input/answer questions from the congregation.
Three congregational Q&A sessions were held to receive input and answer questions from the congregation.
Findings
The primary focus of any expansion is to provide for SAUMC’s future ministry needs.
Attendance at worship service is the most common way families / individuals are introduced to a new church.
If a church parking lot is full, newer worshippers will not expend the effort to find a parking place and attend.
A sanctuary that is 85% full appears to be at capacity to a new attendee.
46% of the families in SAUMC’s immediate area have no church affiliation.
Worship services at the most popular times are nearing capacity and at our current growth rates will exceed capacity before an expansion can be completed.
Sunday school at the most popular time (9:40) is at capacity.
We have reached capacity in most areas of SAUMC’s existing ministry due to space constraints.
Alternatives
The Building Committee considered expansion alternatives of $6, $9 and $12 million.
The $6 and $9 million options:
- Provided some increase in worship space, but did not provide for balanced growth in other ministry areas.
- Would need to be redone in the not too distant future to accommodate continued anticipated growth.
The $12 million option, while certainly the most ambitious:
- Provided balance between worship space, children, youth/adult education, music and the arts, outreach, fellowship, administration, storage, etc. with 30,000 additional finished square feet and 17,500 square feet of unfinished shell space in combination with the completion of the parking lot.
- Is still significantly less than the full build out of 90,000 additional square feet contemplated in the Master Plan.
- Provided best long term financial alternative, by eliminating the future remodeling costs that would be required with the $6 and $9 million options.
Live Our Vision Capital Campaign
The recent capital campaign received 580 pledges, totaling approximately $7,850,000. 580 pledges is 110 more than the prior capital campaign.
$7,850,000 is more than double what has been pledged in any previous capital campaign.
Our bankers consider the results of the capital campaign truly inspiring given the current economy.
Financial Considerations
The outstanding balance on the existing mortgage is projected to be $1,958,000 at the end of its term (May, 2010).
The proposed $12 million expansion will require $5,257,000 of new debt.
The total debt (existing + new) at the conclusion of construction is projected to be $7,215,000.
Lenders are willing to lend SAUMC almost double the $7,215,000 being contemplated, which would allow for an even larger expansion, but the Building Committee does not feel that would be fiscally responsible.
Given current capital market conditions, the payments on a 10 year term will be approximately $1 million annually.
A $1,000,000 annual payment is consistent with SAUMC’s average annual capital pledge for the last nine years.
All financial considerations are currently being evaluated by the Finance Committee, including a survey of other large churches.
Church Conference
A church conference will be held on July 27th at 12:15 to consider approving $400,000 of the Live Our Vision capital campaign pledges to fund the cost of continuing through the Schematic Design Phase. The $400,000 is included in the $12 million estimated cost.
In the Schematic Design Phase specific design details and more exact cost estimates will be developed.
A subsequent church conference late this year or early in 2009 will be held to approve the results of the Schematic Design Phase before commencing with any construction or securing any additional financing.
Members of the Building Committee will be present at the model between worship services on each of the next 4 Sundays to receive input/answer questions.
As expected with any undertaking of this scope, there are still some outstanding questions and reservations. The Building Committee will meet on July 22nd at 6:30 and encourages all those with questions and reservations to please plan to attend the meeting and make their thoughts and feelings known so that the ultimate committee recommendations reflect a true consensus of the congregation of St. Andrew. The Building Committee also wishes to sincerely thank the congregation for its overwhelming support as we continue on our mission to:
INVITE, RECEIVE, NURTURE, CHALLENGE AND SEND FORTH COMMITTED CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES.
Respectfully in Christ, The Building Committee Allen Amis & Brad McNealy ~ Building Committee Co-Chairs