MESSIAH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

BUILDING COMMITTEE

Meeting Notes July 9, 2008

OPENING & DEVOTION

<= /o:p>

Howard opene= d the meeting with prayer at 7:05. Attending: Howard Albrecht, Kevin Plasterer, Kevin Hughes, DeAnn Pug= h, Heather Deutsch, Joe Hockersmith, and Rod Shaffer. Excused: BJ Wyrick.

Guests: Frank Alexander, Bill Spencer, Dan Turner, Jan Turner, and Don Morton<= /span>

PUBLIC/CONGRE= GATION COMMENTS

&nbs= p;

Summary of Oral Comments:

De Ann reiterated oral comments she had received regar= ding requests for cost estimates for specific things (furnishings, equipment, etc.). This would be so inter= ested people could pledge a donation to something specific. After considerable discussion, it = was determined that this would be brought to the attention of Don Morton for the Capital Campaign Committee to consider and advise. The main concern at this stage is = that the focus is on funding for ministry growth and not “building” = per se. The 2 main concerns the Building Committee identified were: first this would “lock/or limit” funds for a specific building, and second, where would the mon= ey come from to cover the cost of getting such specific price estimates when blueprints have not yet been drafted. Howard will share this information with Don Morton.

&nbs= p; Summary of Written Comments – None received

OLD BUSINESS

&= nbsp;

The notes fr= om the May 14, 2008 Meeting were accepted on a motion from Kevin Plasterer and sec= ond by Heather. All were in favor= of accepting the notes.

= ;

NEW BUSINESS<= o:p>

&= nbsp; Church Information Sharing Meeting R= 11; Process review

Everyone ind= icated they received very positive feedback regarding the June 22, 2008 Information Sharing sessions. Generally t= he feeling was that people attending are listening and are pleased with the information being provided. I= t was noted that the post-session discussions, particularly following the 8:00 Worship service went very well.

<= /o:p>

The Building Committee determined that the Information Sharing Sessions approach appears= to be a good way to present to the congregation. Other avenues the Committee will continue to use to reach the congregation include the newsletter, church website postings, and mass mailings. Howard noted that the presentation slides are already on the website, and he will be preparing an article for the August Newsletter based on his presentation notes. All thoug= ht that would be a good idea.

<= /o:p>

&= nbsp; Meeting Schedule Change – Quarterly meetings

Discussion t= urned to the next steps for the Building Committee.= All were in agreement that until such time that the congregation has some funding available for building purposes, the work of the Building Committee at present is at a point of completion. The possibility of alternative pla= n and sketch development for presentation (similar to what had been presented at = the October 2007 and June 2008 Information Sessions) was raised. Howard said that is not a possibil= ity until sufficient funding is available to afford this type of extra design a= nd architectural study work, and official church approval is granted.

<= /o:p>

That being s= aid, Howard suggested that the Building Committee meeting schedule be changed fr= om monthly to quarterly. All wer= e in agreement. Pastor Kevin Hughes indicated that the Building Committee may need to meet more frequently depending upon the scheduling of the annual Church Conference – and a= ll were in agreement.

<= /o:p>

Howard will = contact Amy regarding the change in scheduling and also have Tom Whisenand post the modified schedule on the website.

&nbs= p;

OPEN DISCUSSI= ON

<= /o:p>

There was co= ncern regarding the ministry focus of the Capital Campaign vis-à-vis the Church Conference commission and work of the Building Committee toward what appears to be more of a building (physical structure) focus. Members of the Building Committee, including Pastor Hughes, were quick to point out that everything that has b= een done by the Building Committee, the Information Sharing Sessions/Meetings, = and the Capital Campaign Committee have all be ministry driven. Everything has been based on the “Vitality in the Vision” of Messiah United Methodist Church, wh= ich has been the core theme and guide of this effort from the begining. Pastor Kevin indicated that the Ca= pital Campaign Committee has already perceived the number of people who might have forgotten this and as such this will be an important point of Campaign emph= asis.

REMINDERS

&= nbsp; Council Meeting – Howard assured the Committee that he would continue to be available to Council.

&nbs= p; Next meeting – 10/8/2008 – 7 pm Fellowship Hall

ADJOURN<= /o:p>

The being no= further business, Pastor Kevin closed the meeting with prayer at 7:40 pm.