Campaign Q & A

Q. Why are we having a capital campaign?
A. We have reached the time when we must make major repairs and renovations to our church to be present as the Body of Christ for the next 100 years. We can no longer delay roof, stonework, and safety improvements and have our church be our spiritual home. We must respect our building by taking care of it.

Q. How much money are we trying to raise?
A. Our projected capital need is $2.95 million for the first phase of our campaign, which includes repairing, remodeling, and improving our base for ministries. Generous gifts that are received early in the campaign will be important to the launching of the project. For those who want to give but prefer a phased process, pledges to the capital campaign may be spread over three years.

Q. When and how will pledge commitments be made?
A. Most commitments will be made during Commitment Sunday worship services on March 9. If you will be absent that Sunday or prefer to make your commitment early, the church office can accept your gift or commitment card.

Q. Can this pledge be stretched over time by having deductions made on a monthly basis?
A. Yes. We are asking for pledges spread over three years. We have the ability to accept monthly credit card and bank draft contributions.

Q. Is there a chance the money I contribute to the Capital Campaign will be used for any other purpose?
A. No. As a guarantee to the congregation, the Church Council has adopted the following resolution that says in part: "All funds from the Capital Campaign will be placed in a special account designated ‘Capital Campaign' and used only for the purpose of receipt and expenditure of Capital Campaign funds." The resolution further states that funds from the account can be used only for expenses related to the campaign or for the cost of "renovations and improvements approved by the Board of Trustees" or for additional costs relating to changes required by problems discovered during the renovation process. The resolution requires that a quarterly report be made to the congregation beginning in September to account for funds received and expended.

Q. Does this mean that we can reduce our other pledges for regular giving to the church?
A. No (please). We still need to keep the lights on, the ministers and support staff working and paid, the church and other buildings cleaned, even while we are working to repair and upgrade the sanctuary and other buildings. This is, very frankly, an add-on, and we hope we'll all be willing to stretch ourselves and dig deeper to make sure that we not only continue our present worship and outreach ministry, but prepare ourselves to go confidently and strongly into the future.

Q. Should we instead be spending this money on outreach ministry - caring for the poor, feeding the homeless, other things - rather than spending it on bricks, mortar and sound systems?
A. A good point. The reason we are working on trying to keep our sanctuary and Sunday School buildings in good shape is that they are the platform from which all these other things take place. In order to take care of other people, we also need to take care of our own people, give them a workable place in which to love each other, and a strong platform from which to carry our renewed energy out beyond the bounds of our church to the community.