On January 12, the master planning process concluded at Grace Community Church with a dinner and a presentation by Bruce Wardell. That presentation is available to review on our website. The plan shows where future buildings at GCC might be whenever the congregation decides to address further needs through construction. An actual construction process may tweak the location of something, and may add specifics that many of you asked about, like a nursing mother’s room. It presents a logical layout of space that responds directly to needs identified through the master planning process. The process produced more than a PowerPoint and some cool documents. I want to touch on some of the results of the process which Bruce Wardell and Associates brought us through besides the obvious one of a master plan for buildings.
Factory of ideas
The master plan process produced a factory of ideas and suggestions. Whether at the four meetings we held, in private conversation, or via email, you gave to various leaders at Grace your own ideas and suggestions for our facilities and your solutions for the challenges we face in ministry at GCC. Talking about building projects forced many of you to think about the problems and suggest your own ideas. “ Can we turn the sanctuary sideways?” “Can we add a cry room?” “Couldn’t we do some other things first before building?” “Have we considered having a 'ministry master plan' for GCC?” “Shouldn’t we try another service before building anything?” “Why not plant another church instead of building a building?” As you might imagine, many of these ideas were considered before starting a master plan process. We had data about second services from our past experience as a church (some good and some bad). We had no data on what we might do with our building. The process itself produced ideas and suggestions.
Thinking about real vs. perceived needs
The process identified some ministry areas that are overstressed in terms of space. Some children’s ministry and nursery areas are inadequate right now. The parking lot is overcrowded right now. According to the “80%” principle (a worship facility is full at 80%, because people need enough seats for those who came with them, unlike at a concert where you might sit alone if it was worth it!), many Sundays Grace is over capacity. However, we can all look around us and see some empty seats most Sundays. Couldn’t we find a way to squeeze in a few more people you asked? When we saw the pricetag for expanding worship space, a lot of people wanted to know what other options were available. We were forced to consider our true needs.
Facing financial realities and review priorities
A time management question I once heard really impressed me: “What three things could make a 50% difference in the next 90 days?” It’s a great question, because while there are multiple dozens of things I could do in the next 90 days, there may only be one or two that could make a 50% difference, and if I could identify those, I’d best spend my time on them before getting to anything else. When we started the master plan process, I wondered whether there was a small building project that could make a large difference in what we are doing - one we could pay for without any further indebtedness. In other words, could a smaller priced project make a 50% difference in what we are doing at Grace? The master plan helped us see some of the realities. There aren’t many low cost things that can make a huge difference, though some smaller things might. The deacons are proceeding toward some parking lot improvements that fit into that category.
I’m getting bids to replace my heat pump which is old as dirt, and could go belly up soon. The first contractor was low-priced and gave few details. The second contractor interviewed us: “Do you have allergies”, “Is it too hot or cold anywhere”, “Are there spaces you want to add to your HVAC system?” Each of those questions had a sizable dollar addition to the bid: an expensive air cleaner, duct work that cost as much as the first companies bid for example. That turned what seemed doable to something that cost as much as an earlier room addition. The dollars forced us to make priorities: drop the air cleaner, drop the ductwork (make do!), and have a better fan system to address the problems for a lower price.
At the third master plan meeting, when a dollar cost of $1.5 million for a high impact phase one (essentially solving all most demanding space problems for the foreseeable future), there was a unmistakable and audible response. It was the same response I had when I reviewed that second HVAC bid: “Well, that’s not happening!” Priorities were reviewed, and Bruce Wardell put dollar costs on various pieces of the proposed first phase, so that leaders can decide whether to do several smaller projects as funds allow.
Raising some hard questions
Going through this process I heard this hard question: “What’s wrong with a church of 240?” At one level the answer is obvious; there are some beautiful things about our church just where it is. I love the people we have. We love Christ; we love one another. Isn’t that enough? It sounds like the thinking is: “Given the people and money costs of any of the obvious solutions, isn’t it wiser to do nothing?”
That is a hard question for me to hear in a number of ways. I hear some things that aren’t intended in the question. I hear ease and comfort when may not be what drives it. There really are a lot of good things about a church our size. Maybe you agree with the thought: we are fine, so let’s do nothing. But let me challenge our thinking by answering a question with a question: “When is it OK to tell someone 'You aren’t welcomed or needed here'?” I can’t think of anyone at GCC who would ever tell someone that intentionally.
To personalize it, some GCC members invited a friend who is going through a major life crisis, the big kind. This person wasn’t attending church regularly prior to coming here. This person is attending now and is reaching out for help in various ways. If anybody were unfriendly or unkind to this person, you or I would get downright nasty about it! We can all agree about that.
Some Sundays our parking lot says, “You are not welcome here”. Some Sundays our worship center or nursery says, “Sorry, there is no room.” That’s not acceptable, is it? At the end of the day, Grace Community Church will always find a way to welcome such a person as mentioned above. It might mean spending some money on parking, scooting over closer to the aisle, or someday, constructing new facilities. Yes, indeed, it is okay to be the size we are right now. It’s not okay to turn someone away who needs to meet Christ in Christian community. Somehow, we will find a way.
Bringing us toward “substantial agreement”
When the last master plan meeting was over, I sensed a good feeling. People gave me some positive feedback about Bruce and the process. Some of them then told me what they hoped we wouldn’t do to solve the problem. Nevertheless, I felt like people were growing to understand some of the challenges. Every option involves change which by nature means something is lost. If we have a second service, it means the staff (volunteer and paid) work harder, and possibly sleep less. It will mean that we don’t see some of our friends. Whatever path our Session decides to take us down, we all know that there will be some sacrifice and loss. When we feel that pain, let’s imagine that the person for whom we are making room is that person in great need, hungering for a touch from God. Because, that might be exactly who is taking our warm chair! I think we are closer to that realization than we’ve been in the past.
What’s next?
Next Tuesday, a group of GCC officers, staff, and master plan committee members will meet to talk over all the ideas that are floating around. We are going to learn where there is “substantial agreement” about the logical next steps. We will see where we have a consensus on the longer range ideas. The elders are the pacesetters and direction setters of the church. We will take that data and decide where we go from here. Please join me in praying that when that day comes, we will all know that it is a move of God among us and that He has led us down this new path.
In Him,
Don