St.
Chad's Episcopal Church
The Little Church With a Big Heart
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The Little Church With a Big Heart |
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Building Committee Building
Committee Input to September 2007 Monthly Newsletter Building for Our Ministries The Building Committee has analyzed the results from the approximately 70 survey responses turned in following the town hall meetings asking you which ministries are important for St. Chad’s. We then interpreted the results in terms of the emphasis that BC3 should put on ensuring that the eventual, expanded facilities have features that will enhance St Chad’s ability to effectively accomplish those ministries. It should be noted that the ministries that were included in the survey were those that may impact facility requirements and design. Some very important ministries for St. Chad’s were not included in the survey, such as some outreach programs, for that exact reason. Although all ministries may be considered worthy and serving God, not all parishioners accord them the same priority or emphasis. Indeed, where a particular ministry may be seen as crucial to one parishioner, another may see it as unimportant or even as one to be avoided for one reason or another; other parishioners may be neutral about that ministry, believing that if someone else wishes to do it that’s fine but they wouldn’t object if that ministry were not part of St Chad’s program. Such a ministry may simply be waiting for a parishioner with passion for it to grab the reins and lead it; or the Vestry may decide that such a ministry deserves to be promoted by the Vestry. In short, the survey responses reflected the traditional hallmarks and emphases of St Chad’s. The key ministries revolve around worship, Christian education, and fellowship. Other ministries, widely seen as desirable but not key, include meeting the needs of our teens, outreach to our community, special accommodations for reflection and prayer, and accommodations for people with special needs. Current views were either neutral or divergent about non-traditional worship settings, sponsorship of concerts or programs for neighborhood teens, in-house outreach programs, expansion of the Family Cooperative Pre-school, and a full-time daycare or pre-school. Parishioners were not supportive of St Chad’s establishing and operating an accredited primary school. I am happy to report that the results were unanimously approved by the Vestry at their August 12 meeting. BC3 now plans to translate those ministries emphasis results into preliminary facility requirements or design features. To do so, we will ensure that the key ministries are well-addressed, and that widely desirable ministries are accommodated to the extent possible. The other ministries will not be ignored, but will not be used as key determinants of our design efforts; indeed, as we seek to design good multi-purpose space, many ministries in the lower two categories could still be accommodated. BC3 believes that the town hall meetings achieved what we sought – views about the ministries that St Chad’s should emphasize, and an opportunity for parishioners to make their views known as part of our Building Program. We thank everyone who participated and provided input. On another note, as was stated in earlier BC3 reports, we are planning on conducting periodic, probably quarterly, fund raising events. To that end our first fund (fun) raiser will be a breakfast that your building committee will host on Sunday, October 28 in lieu of the regular breakfast feast that people have come to enjoy after both services every Sunday. I am told that there may be some “killer waffles” included as part of the breakfast. All contributions donated for the breakfast that morning will be designated for the Building Fund. Please join us for this extra special breakfast in support of your Building Program. Rich Simpson, Vice Chair |
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