Building Committee – 3^rd Meeting:  Oct. 18, 2006

Narrative & Minutes Building Committee … Messiah United Methodist Church

Building Committee Members per Aug. 20, 2006 Church Conference are Betty Jane Wyrick, Howard Albrecht, Heather Deutsch, and Kevin Plasterer.  Meetings are open to all who desire to attend.

ALL members of the Committee attended; Pastor Howell convened. Members of the congregation in attendance:  Brenda Gabler; Bill Spencer; Sharon Spencer; Nancy Richardson. 

The meeting was convened at 7 p.m. by Pastor Howell.  The committee returned to its focus through the prayer and Psalm 127.  The pastor introduced Mr. Blain Bargo to the Committee.  Blain is a Certified Layspeaker in the UMC who is a project manager for a large construction firm in the Harrisburg area. 

About 7 years ago Blain had a sense of call to use his construction expertise to assist churches as they approached renovation/construction projects.  Blain assisted Messiah UMC with the sanctuary A/C project several years ago, and has provided expert advice on a number of other matters.

Blain offered his testimony and his sense of call in the service he is freely offering to UMCs.

He then emphasized the “Spiritual Aspects” that he believes any Building Committee must keep before it as it seeks to complete its work:

1) Seek discernment (know your goals, purpose and ministry focus)

2) Disagreements must be met with by/in prayer

3) Stewardship focus must be vigilant … addressing all things from the perspective of “what God has placed in our hands.”

Blain then proceeded with a framework of recommendations for the Committee to consider as it determines it next steps and future course:

A) Clearly define purpose/goals as they fall under the following:

· enhance ministry

· accessibility

· atmosphere

· expansion of ministry

B) He went into great detail outlining the differences between the two typical approaches:

· Drawing & Spec:  hire architect up front; conceptual design; expand on the design; full-set of documents; fairly detailed; book of specs for materials, how-applied, warranties, schedules.  Church would do contractor hire under this.  A design-emphasis, typically.

· Design-Build:  general contractor employees an architect; oversees architect on extent of work; hires mechanical and electrical contractors (either they do or sub-let).  A need-emphasis, typically. 

There was considerable discussion and question/answer regarding these processes, the pros/cons, what to anticipate, how to proceed, etc.

C) Two Sets of Three Aspects of Utmost Importance:

1) Design (which is of greater importance, design or need?); Timeframe (do you have time … what is the time/timeline?); Available Funds.

2) Quality Work; Timely Fashion; Within Available Budget (realistic response)

There was question and discussion on the possibility of “phasing” any work/projects in order to provide more immediate return on investments to address facility/ministry needs.

The Committee spent a portion of time interacting with Blain on an array of items. 

The Committee thanked Blain Bargo for his input and presentation, and for his sense of ministry call in this area.  A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Blain was offered, and the Committee scheduled its next meeting for Wed., Oct. 25, 7 p.m.  Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.