As has been announced previously, the Church Council did create a Building Committee to explore building options. This has been a long time coming, beginning even before Pastor Reaman left.
You will recall that while Pastor Reaman was serving us, we looked at the former church on Church Street. At that time the cost of repairs was prohibitive. Then while Pastor Wenk was serving us as an interim, we had drawings done of remodeling our current building. The remodeling price tag was hefty and we still wouldn’t have solved our parking problem. Then just recently, once again the building on Church Street became available and we again considered it. Even though the last owners had invested considerable funds in the building, it still was a money pit. The Church Council even evaluated demolishing the building and rebuilding on that site, but taking a two-story and flattening it out to a one story left the footprint again too small for parking requirements. So, we were back at the drawing board. Our current building still has major issues facing it even with the new siding. The flat roof and the peaked roof are both going to need replacing, the stairs continue to create an obstacle, the sanctuary isn’t large enough to accommodate weddings or funerals, there isn’t a narthex for fellowship before and after services and the price tag to address these issues keeps growing and growing. Therefore, the Council decided it was time to explore other options thus the creation of a Building Committee. Their assigned task is to explore options and the feasibility of those options. Currently members of the Building Committee are meeting with various landowners and inquiring about the possibility of donating land (for the tax benefits) to our church. The Committee realizes that we must have land donated in order to proceed further on the building option. Secondly, members of the Committee are exploring the financial aspects. Our current property is valued at $250,000, this has been reported at Voters Meetings and is still accurate. In speaking with Pastor Thiele of Lutheran Church Extension Fund, our current monthly loan payment would cover principle of $100,000. We currently owe about $15,000 on our LCEF loan. So there appears to be financial resources that we have available to us. So, if it is in God’s Plan to bring this all together, the Building Committee wanted to ask your input on some basic questions. We would all welcome and appreciate your prayers. In Christ’s care, Anna Maenner, Christ Lutheran Building Committee Comments are closed.
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April 2023
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