| Oak Creek Community United Methodist Church |
Why did we choose the theme Faith Needs Room To Grow?
This theme helps us to look at growth from at least two perspectives. First, we need physical room: room for the choirs, room for Sunday School classes, room for committees, to plan their work, room for youth fellowships to move around, room for various small groups to meet in. Our member are increasing and the number of groups needing to use our building is increasing. Second, all of the groups that meet here are providing way for members, visitors, and friends to grow in our Christian faith. We want people to grow in their love of God, their discipleship to Jesus, and in their sense of Christian community. Everything we do is to help people grow in their faith. We do not want to build just for the sake of building. We want to build because "Faith Needs Room to Grow".
How much money do we hope to raise?
Our goal is to raise $300,000 or more in cash and three year commitments. Raising this amount of money means we will need special gifts from all of our members and friends. These special three-year commitments will be over and above our regular weekly offerings for current expenses and missions.
How will the funds be used?
The funds will be used to complete as much of our preliminary building project as financially possible. The project is divided into two phases. Phase One includes:
The estimated cost of Phase One is $1,200,000. Only Phase One is being considered at this time. Phase Two may include a larger fellowship hall, a new kitchen, four more classrooms, and a second elevator. Phase Two's estimated cost is $800,000.
How will the building program be financed?
Building Fund offerings received before groundbreaking and during construction will pay the interest on the construction loan and provide a down-payment on the building program. The remainder of the construction costs will be paid through a mortgage. Contributions during the remainder of the three-year commitment period will help pay the debt service on the loan.
Are we certain of the need for a building program?
Yes, most definitely! We have been blessed with a growing congregation in a growing community. Because of our growth and our many exciting ministries we need more room. We need more space for teaching, worship, fellowship and our church staff. We need to expand and renovate our church building to be able to better serve our members and our growing community.
What happens at the end of the three-year commitment period?
In three years we will reevaluate our congregation's financial situation. Depending upon the total costs of the building program, the amount borrowed to build, and congregational membership and budget, we may need to consider renewing our building fund commitments. If our current appeal is successful and gift commitments are fulfilled, we will be in the strongest possible position three years from now.
How can I begin to think about my gift?
Our gifts must be over and above our regular weekly offerings for current expenses and missions. For many of us our giving to the building fund will cause us to reevaluate our priorities. We are challenged to grow in our faith and generosity. We know our gifts will meet several specific needs of our church. All of us need to respond to this appeal generously to move forward with our ministry.
How can I make my gift to the building fund?
At the beginning of this project, we encouraged our members to make an initial gift and then a three-year commitment. Initial cash gifts are given at the time you make your commitment. The most common plan for fulfilling the three-year commitment is to make gift installments every week by indicating your contribution on the Building Fund line on your offering envelopes. However, gifts may also be given monthly or annually. The following giving table may helpful in planning your gifts. Here's how a weekly gift can grow in size over a three-year period:
Weekly Gift of Amounts to an annual gift of
Amounts to a 3-year gift of
$5.00
$10.00
$15.00
$20.00
$25.00
$30.00
$40.00
$50.00
$70.00
$100.00
$150.00
$320.00$260.00
$520.00
$780.00
$1,040.00
$1,300.00
$1,560.00
$2,080.00
$2,600.00
$3,640.00
$5,200.00
$7,800.00
$16,666.00$780.00
$1,560.00
$2,340.00
$3,210.00
$3,900.00
$4,680.00
$6,240.00
$7,800.00
$10,920.00
$15,600.00
$23,400.00
$50,000.00
Is my gift tax deductible?
Yes, a gift to the building fund is tax deductible if you itemize your contributions when filing your tax return. Besides cash, you may contribute gifts of property, stocks, life insurance and other securities. Memorial gifts are also welcome. Please contact our church office for further information.
Are we encouraging friends and former members of Oak Creek Community United Methodist Church as well as relatives of our members to make a building fund gift?
Yes, we will ask friends and former members to make a building fund gift commitment. If you would like to encourage a friend or relative to make a commitment or a one-time gift, please do so. If you would like us to mail them a brochure and commitment card, please give the name and address to our Appeal Secretary, Laetitia O. or the Church Office.
Why are we doing this, there is nothing wrong with the building we have?There is nothing “wrong” with our current building. Our planning actually began with a “Listening Day” almost five years ago when the congregation had an organized conversation about the ministries our church needed to be about. From that Listening Day a committee was formed to sort through the information and prioritize it. The building needs were then passed on to another committee which issued a report “Walking With Jesus.” That report recommended the new parking lot, sanctuary, and additional rooms. From there, a Building Committee was formed, with the approval of the congregation. That Building Committee submitted first-stage plans which the congregation voted on and approved. The Building Committee then submitted final plans which were unanimously approved by the congregation. The reason we are doing this is that, over and over, the congregation—working in these committees and voting as a whole body—has determined this project to be necessary and a positive step to keep this congregation a vital entity.
The Sanctuary isn’t full most Sundays,
so why are we building something larger?
Studies show that when a sanctuary, or any large room, is 80% full, people begin to be uncomfortable. They feel that people are too close. On special Sundays, for example, during Holy Week, Christmas Eve, weddings, and on several other occasions, the sanctuary is at capacity or even beyond. It is also difficult to get bell tables and other musical instruments into the sanctuary in a comfortable way. The current chancel is too small for the Altar Choir and limits other worship expressions that we might want to have in the future.
We are also in one of the fastest growing areas of Wisconsin. If we want to be inviting to more and more people, we need more room. Since sanctuaries are expensive to build, it was decided to build a sanctuary larger than our current needs. There is also the possibility of expanding the new sanctuary with the removal of the back interior wall. This new sanctuary should be our worship home for many years to come.
I haven’t been sure where to bring my concerns about the new building or where to ask questions or offer suggestions. I hope my voice can be heard.
Since we began speaking as a congregation about an addition, there have been several ways in which people could ask questions. The congregation was invited to bring questions and concerns to any member of the Building Committee and their names and phone numbers were listed. The pastor is always ready to hear questions, concerns, and suggestions. Also, when the preliminary plans were unveiled the congregation was invited to write their ideas and concerns right on the plan in the Friendship Room and many did. Questions were answered and the replies were posted in the Friendship Room. New ideas were incorporated, where practical. Every idea, suggestion, and question was reviewed by the Building Committee. Ideas and questions are still welcome. Every attempt will be made to keep the congregation informed. Questions addressed to the Building Committee will be reviewed at the meetings and answers given to those who have asked the question. Please do not leave your name off your questions. There needs to be an opportunity for dialogue. Questions and concerns can come in person, by phone, fax, e-mail, or post.
Handicapped Parking is/will be too far away from the entrance.
The positioning of handicapped parking will be reviewed when the new wing is completed. More handicapped parking may be added.
Why isn't there a covered drop-off area at the front door?
Plans exist to add a covered drop-off when funds become available.
Why is there no elevator in the new section?
Eventually the entire addition will be devoted to sanctuary space and an elevator could not be placed in the new addition. Retrofitting the current sanctuary space to accommodate a second elevator was prohibitively expensive. A second elevator is to be included in the next phase of the building expansion when we add a new Fellowship Hall and kitchen.
Won’t we need two sound systems if we are able to change the seating layout in the sanctuary?
Although that would be the optimal solution, we can get a single system that will provide decent sound regardless of the seating layout.
Can we afford the new building?
Stewardship and Finance has studied our income and expenses and determined that we can. The bank has also determined that we can afford this building. Some things that we would like to have may be too expensive at this time, and some things may have to be done by us (there is a volunteer poster in the Friendship Room). The question is, given the restrictions placed on our congregation by the current building and given the growth of the community, can we afford not to build it?
The current kitchen is too small, dark, antiquated, has no automatic dishwasher, etc. Why isn’t it part of the new building?
Although we are not installing a completely new kitchen at this time, the current kitchen will be getting a total overhaul. We will be getting an automatic dishwasher (!), some new shelving, new flooring, and other goodies, all of which (except the floor) can be removed and reused when we build the next phase.
Can’t the congregation just vote on specific issues?
The congregation has, in fact, voted on the major issues. But many things that need to be decided would only boil down to a question of one person’s tastes over another person’s tastes. This simply sets up winners and losers. No congregation with over 400 adults in it is going to agree on everything even if they take a vote. As was mentioned above, a great many people, all along the way have represented the congregation by the hard work they have done on numerous committees.
On issues such as the layout of the sanctuary and the choosing of furniture, the question to ask is not “What do I like?” but “How will the things that are put into the sanctuary help our congregation to worship—not only now but in the future?” This question is being asked by those who are responsible for the new building and for worship
Why is modular seating being considered?
The District has encouraged all those who are building or renovating sanctuaries to seriously consider modular seating. The main reason is the flexibility it allows for worship. The seating can be configured one way for a wedding, a different way for Communion, another way when special instruments are involved, or when special services are planned. For example, for a baptism or for Holy Communion we might decide to put the font or the Communion table in the center and seat the congregation on both sides of it, where we can see each other and feel closer as the body of Christ. Since we plan to be worshipping in this sanctuary for many years, it seems good to keep our options open and not nail down the furniture. It also allows us to put in seating we need now, and add more seating later, perhaps in a different configuration.
Isn’t modular seating unsafe? Won’t the sections fall over? Can you pull yourself up on the back of the seat in front of you?
Modular seating has been used in churches now for over 30 years. It doesn’t fall over. The style we have selected is a solid bench and very much resembles a padded pew. There are no holes or gaps between the seats. Obviously, each individual chair would need to be treated like any other chair in terms of how people sit or pull on them. People stand up differently from a chair than they do from a pew. Once hooked together (called ganging) the chairs become a single unit, again much like a pew and are in fact designed to resist all but the most concerted efforts to pull them over. Both the Building Committee and the Worship Work Area have traveled to churches with modular seating to look at them in place. Both groups have also had samples brought to the church.
Is one reason for modular seating so that the sanctuary can be emptied out for other uses than worship?
No. The sanctuary is for worship, programs, congregational meetings (such as Charge Conference), and concerts, exactly as the current sanctuary is used.
We will have four other available spaces for large group activities: the old sanctuary space, the current Fellowship Hall and the two large classrooms in the basement of the new addition In addition, the new seating will not be stackable which will make it difficult to clear a large section of floor in the new sanctuary.
Where are the chairs to be stored when not in use?
We are not planning to buy all the seating the new sanctuary
is capable of holding right away, so there will not be any chairs to store.
Are there cleaning issues with upholstery on modular
chairs?
The fibers are impregnated with fabric guard and are designed
for institutional usage. Also, we will not be using the chairs anywhere but
in the sanctuary, so there will be no meals to worry about.
Will the style of modular seating clash with the style
of this church?
We were very careful to choose a style that will complement
the design of our church. When ganged together in a row, the chairs very
much resemble a padded pew and are available in a wide range of colors.