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Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors |
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Welcome to the Monticello United Methodist Church |
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New Building Site Update!! |
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Making the Vision a Reality: A Brief History of Our Journey to Create New Ministry Space
After years of exploring a building addition or purchasing property near the present location, M.U.M.C. purchased 20 acres next door to Tatman Village in 2001. Your response was overwhelmingly positive, and we repaid the entire loan one year early. The proposal to buy the property, and the finance campaign to raise the money, projected a Family Life Center with emphasis on family and youth activities for ministry, recreation, and large gatherings.
A Land Development Steering Committee extensively studied aspects of building design and land use. There were frequent meetings of task groups. One group visited sixteen churches talking to pastors and laity. They learned about foyers, worship space, offices, children and youth areas, accommodations for senior citizens, classrooms, kitchen, heating and air conditioning, nursery, libraries, music rooms, restrooms, and more. Another task group identified potential physical features of the building. These two groups included 43 people. A smaller group discussed building design. More than 100 people participated in some way. Seventy-eight people attended an open forum, and posters, newsletters, and pulpit announcements reported progress.
In July 2004, the Church Council received the Land Development Steering Committee written report and created a Building Committee to propose development of the site. They also created a Building Task Force of church Ministry Team chairpersons, and representatives from Trustees, Finance, Lay Leaders, and other interested persons to interact with the architect and Building Committee. The Church Council received their report on April 6, 2006.
The proposed design includes not only a multi-purpose Family Life Center, but also a long-range plan that will move all ministries and worship to the property. These are some of the factors leading to this decision: 1) A desire to avoid duplicating utility and maintenance costs, and some additional staffing for two campuses any longer than necessary. 2) There is limited usage of a multi-purpose building on Sunday mornings because of transportation issues. 3) We need space for present and expanded children and youth programs, and senior citizen activities, as well as varied worship experiences, fellowship meals, and ministries not possible in the present building. 4) We desire complete accessibility, convenience, and plenty of parking.
The Church Council approved the proposal and presented it to the church on June 4, 2006. During the weeks preceding the Council meeting, members received a mailing describing the proposal and an invitation to any of ten informal meeting’s to discuss the plan with representatives of the Building Committee and the Finance Committee.
On June 4, 2006, our district superintendent led a Charge Conference where we prayerfully heard, discussed, and voted on the proposal. By a vote of 91 to 56, members approved a resolution to continue developing the building and site plans, and to have a capital stewardship campaign next fall to raise funds (See the article in this Good Vibrations on Being of the Same Mind).
Following the campaign the Building Committee, Finance Committee, and the Church Council will propose the first phase of construction. How much we can build will depend on financial commitments, combined with a reasonable construction loan as needed. Church leaders will carefully propose a financial plan so we can maintain current expenses as well as construction costs. All of this information will then come back to the congregation for final approval by vote at a Church Conference some time in 2007.
The Building Committee continues to work on details for development of the infrastructure of the site, including conversations with the City of Monticello, and some refinement of the building plan itself. Phase one includes constructing the entire proposed two-story building, finishing the first floor as much as possible, including at least the multi-purpose space, restrooms, kitchen, and narthex. We can do much of the interior finishing work ourselves.
The Church Council has cast a broad, long-range vision for the church’s future. How much and how quickly we can build depends on results of the capital campaign. We will continue to be in our present building until the new one is sufficient to house our ministry. Other finance campaigns will follow in years to come until the entire building is completed.
The long-range floor plan includes construction of a traditional sanctuary, with worship in the interim held in the multi-purpose space. Sunday worship in a traditional sanctuary is probably desirable, however space for the expanding current ministries and creating new ministries requires priority, so we can successfully reach people in our community who do not have a church home
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Building Committee Update
New Building Committees At Work
The site development plans for our new church are progressing. Our engineering firm is currently working on the site drainage plans for the City along with the water and sewer permit documentation for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. We should have the drainage plan to the City for review about the middle of May. We will submit the water and sewer permits to the IEPA at the same time. The review time for the City is typically about 2 or 3 weeks while the review time for the IEPA could be up to 90 days. We expect to start site preparation sometime this summer. Our Phase II contract with Zion Church Builders has been finalized and signed. Our architect has already started working on the construction documents. Our Interior Design Committee has been visiting churches throughout Central Illinois gathering ideas and getting advice. The Interior Design Committee is also reviewing our existing fixtures and furniture to determine how best to use them in our new Church. We expect to start construction of the new Church sometime this summer or early fall, after the site preparation is complete. Watch for additional Building Committee updates as the seeds of our future begin to take root in our Fields of Faith. Kim Baker, Chairperson
Committee Members: Kim Baker (Chairperson), Al Beitelman, Rob Taylor, Clarice Jester, Jean Dean, Linda Ayers, Dave Redman, Janet Schauf, and Bill Dielman. |
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Good Questions Are Being Asked One of the blessings of the recent Information Meetings for Fields of Faith has been questions about the church and the building plan. Here is what we heard.
Question: Is our building in good repair? I heard that the sanctuary roof was falling in. Answer: We repaired the roof structure a few years ago when large beams separated. Extensive repairs have been made. Last year’s engineering inspection reported a sound roof structure. We will have the roof inspected every two years. The roof is in good shape.
Question: I heard that the church is weak and struggling and this is not the time to raise capital funds. Is this true? Answer: The church is thriving in many areas of ministry. We are financially sound as more and more people have taken a step toward a tithe through their Estimate of Giving Card. We received fifty people into the church family in the past thirteen months, including a confirmation class of 13 youth. Another confirmation class will occur this winter. The children’s Sunday School department is crowded with sometimes more than 20 in the pre-k and Kindergarten classroom. See the new classroom assignments in a related article. Laity have stepped up to share leadership. Local and international missions for Christ are abundant. Newcomers are welcomed and assimilated into the church family. There is always room to improve, but we are quite alive for Christ in many ways.
Question: Why did we decide to build more than a recreation building on the Tatman property? Answer: As the Building Committee deliberated and reviewed the results of previous research teams, they realized that the “Two Campus” concept (staying downtown with a recreation building on the edge of town) was costly and inconvenient in ways that we did not anticipate. As explained at the June 2006 church conference, “We were wrong.” A recreation center would be used mid-week, but it would not address issues of Sunday morning crowding in 8:30 a.m. worship and parking areas, classroom and staff office space, and accessibility. There would be staff and utility costs.
Question: How will a multi-purpose space be suitable for worship until a traditional sanctuary is completed? Answer: Several people have visited other congregations that use a multi-purpose room for worship. Although this space does not resemble our present sanctuary, it is quite suitable for worship. First, it is not like a school gymnasium. There is carpeting on the floor, and lighting controlled to suit the service and moment of worship. A quality sound system and acoustics enhance the worship experience. Live plants and tasteful decorations add to the affect. It will be what we want it to be. The large narthex provides space for people to visit. You will have a chance to visit nearby churches and see for yourself this winter.
Question: Can we move the carillon to the new building? Answer: Yes.
Question: When will we break ground, and what will we build first? Answer: It depends on the results of our sacrificial giving toward the Fields of Faith goals. The Building Committee and Church Council will study the next step in light of the campaign results. Church members will review and vote on a resolution for funding and construction. Obviously, the larger the financial commitments now, the more we can build, and the less costly it will be.
Question: When will we move from our present building? Answer: We will not move from our present building until we have completed the new building as proposed.
Question: Can we do some of the construction ourselves? Answer: We think it would be possible for volunteer to help finish the second floor, after builders complete construction as proposed.
Question: Is anyone interested in buying our property? Answer: It is too early to expect that.
Question: When we move, can we take the stained glass? Answer: We will decide the conditions of the sale. Many churches take some or all the stained glass (depending on the prospective buyer’s desires and our decisions), and incorporate the glass in the new structure. We see it in new church libraries, prayer rooms, lighted in hallway, hanging with oak frame, and as room dividers. There are several options for preserving our heritage. We may take other items of history and heritage, but these are future decisions.
Question: How much will we borrow? Answer: Again, that is unknown until we know the results of the Fields of Faith program. We have encouraged each household make a sacrificial commitment. We can trust the Finance Committee and the Church Council to make wise decisions regarding debt. The District Board of Church Location and Building will approve the financial plan. Finally, church members will vote on borrowing with any resolution to build.
Question: What will happen to our buildings and property? Answer: In the future when we move to the new location, the property will be sold, and the proceeds used to reduce indebtedness. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference does not own our property. We do. The IGRC Trustees only take over property when a local church closes, property matters are not resolved, and the local church Trustees no longer exist.
Question: Will Illinois Great Rivers Conference help us pay for construction? Answer: No. The conference consists of several hundred churches, most of them smaller than MUMC. Churches pay for their own construction. A few local churches in the conference have trust funds, and we will investigate making a grant application. |