Moving Forward, Part 3!

Moving Forward, Part 3!

Heather Millar, President

The last two weeks of In The Know have contained articles reporting the message clearly heard during our recent Congregational Conversation to give BEEC2 the green light to implement Phase 1 now. Along with support for financing the shortfall, some raised concerns about a balloon payment. The Board took action during its February 23rd meeting to authorize financing up to $340,000 to complete BEEC2 Phase 1. In those articles we noted that from several breakout rooms we heard  we need to be transparent about our decisions. This is the third of four planned articles to provide details of what you said in those rooms and reactions to some of the ideas expressed.

This week we again offer quotations and numbers from the various breakout rooms, citing instances that relate to the three more topics. This series of articles will conclude next week with final quotations from the rooms and an update on where we are regarding BEEC2 and financing options.

Not all groups summarized their positions with green, yellow and red light designations for implementation of Phase 1 now . Five groups did.

  • 29 Green
  • 5 Between Green and Yellow
  • 3 Yellow
  • 1 Red
  • 1 No Opinion

Several groups reported support for making a call to the congregation for gifts. However, as reported last week, there was even more concern expressed about funding our operating budget. Because this “call” could hinder the success of our current Stewardship effort, we do not currently plan to implement a “call.” However, we do note that last year Mark Ewert, our Stewardship consultant, did say we can let people know that the Capital Fund is accepting donations as long as donors understand the priority of the operating budget and that a full Capital Campaign is in our future. Here is what groups reported about asking for donations.

  • Consider people making a donation in addition to their pledge
  • Making an appeal to the congregation – direct donation or they take out a loan at a lower rate
  • Donations for Phase 1- everyone [in this room] thought we should ask for donations to reduce the loan
  • Suggested Board make “Call” and invite anyone in congregation to gift for specific part of the project
  • The idea of a limited Capital Campaign is a good idea because using operating money to pay a mortgage is scary. It’s already happening on a small scale.  You can now contribute to the building committee. Could do more of this.

Some groups reported they considered selling some land. While this can be considered in the long run, it is not an answer for immediate funds. We had an extensive study by the Best Use Of Land Committee last year. They reported a loud do not sell. In additional to the necessary preparations to sell land, we would need to have this Committee revisit the idea and see if there is now support for selling small portions of our property. Here is what groups reported about selling land.

  • Wondered about selling the part of the land that is not our forest
  • Maybe we should build a house on the property on Dubois Road, and sell it for big profit 🙂
  • People do park (on Sunday AM) on the Dubois portion of the land that we discussed selling
  • Some interest in looking at selling the two small properties, if not now, then in the future  
  • Land Sale- ranged from sell now for cash to make it a last resort
  • Pursue option of selling land at the same time
  • The Dubois property is worth $200K. Lawrence $150k. We’ve never used them. If we sell the three plots of land and do a Capital Campaign, we could fund the whole thing.

Much support for the 8th Principle was reported. 

  • Support for 8th principle focused financing
  • All who spoke voiced support for 8th Principle if added costs are not too great — although no clear positions on whether to go with a progressive local institution or a Black-owned institution  
  • I do support the 8th Principle. At the same time, I like supporting a local bank that is still living our principles so would support more the use of the local bank
  • There is very active support for the 8th principle in hiring minority owned business and researching minority owned banks to do business with 
  • Wanted the committee to know how grateful they are for the work and especially the commitment to the 8th Principle.

These comments are reflective of others received. They illustrate thoughtful consideration of this project and options. Next week’s article will complete this report of what was reported from the February 21 breakout rooms. Thank you to all who participated.