Discernment
Previous Capital Campaign Drive: Accessibility
Seven years ago, CHN undertook a Capital Campaign with four major goals:
- Pay off the mortgage on parish property
- Purchase a versatile, state-of-the-art organ
- Update children’s education space and staff offices
- Provide universal access to the lower level
Parish response was characteristically generous. When our first three goals were met, $45,000 remained. Since a suitable universal access solution (iv) would require more than the remaining amount, that $45,000 has been earning interest as CHN explored funding options.
CHN hoped to qualify for state matching funds or other grant support to reach our goal. Even if those grant proposals were successful, architects advised that a permanent, simple, suitable, all-climate lift would require even more capital. We reviewed several plans for varieties of building modification, but found that none was ideal. Clearly more funds were needed.
Development professionals from Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) are available to consult with parishes in exploration of all phases of their endowment or expansion programs. (ECF’s staff now incorporates professional advisors from Holliman & Associates, the consultant firm that helped CHN with our earlier capital campaign.) In keeping with good stewardship principles, and given both the architectural significance and financial scope of our commitment to universal access, your vestry voted unanimously to invite ECF to lead us through a comprehensive goals-and-options assessment. We are grateful that EFC consultant Terri Mathes will support CHN in fulfilling our mission and ministry, in this part of God’s Kingdom, at this time.
Discernment is Phase I of any such endeavor. (In TRUE discernment, there is no “hoped for” outcome.) With ECF’s help, your vestry’s initial goal is to gain insights and answers to these three key questions:
- Is this issue a priority for our parish?
- If so, are the plans presented appropriate?
- Is this the right time to embark on this project?
As a parish, we will reflect on who God is calling us to be and where accessibility lies within our vision.
