Our Called to Welcome capital campaign is in full swing. We already have over one million dollars in pledges. And, we’re just getting started!
The campaign conversations have generated a number of excellent questions about the process we will use to decide what, when, or if, we begin construction on the project.
Allow me to offer a general outline of how we might go about making this important decision as a congregation…
- The Called to Welcome capital campaign is raising the funds needed to address the welcoming and accessibility solutions presented to the congregation on January 28. The Advanced Gifts phase of the campaign is underway. It is soon to be followed by the Community Gifts phase which begins on May19/20. The campaign concludes on June 17. On that day we will announce the campaign total. It’s a very important number because it helps to establish the building project budget.
- The Building Committee continues to work with our architectural form, RDG, and our General Contractor, Hampton Enterprises, to design solutions that are cost-effective and appealing to the eye. Many studies are being conducted in these next few weeks. Acoustical studies and lighting studies are completed. Civil engineers, structural engineers, roofing contractors and interior designers are hard at work. These studies and assessments offer vital information to the design team and the Building Committee. Costs of the project and more definite plans for the project should be completed by the middle of June.
The parallel processes converge in June and July. Once a capital campaign total is known, the Building Committee, architect and General Contractor prepare options for consideration to the Congregation Council. In fact, the Building Committee, architect, General Contractor and the Congregation Council will meet in retreat on July 7. They will develop a proposal to bring to the congregation for discussion on Sundays, July 15 and 22.
- The congregation will vote on a Building Project proposal on July 29. (Unless our leaders believe we need more time). On this day, we will vote on the project itself and the financing needed for the construction phase. We will vote to sign contracts with the general contractor and to file for permits with the city of Lincoln.
- Construction could begin in late autumn 2018. We are told there could be quite a cost-savings if we were to begin construction in late 2018.
- Construction is believed to take about 12 months. So, 2019 could be a year of construction. During this year, we hope to minimize disruption to our regular ministry and programming.
Throughout this entire process we will continue to be prayerful about what we believe God is calling us to do. Thank you for already holding up the Building Committee, Congregation Council, Architect, General Contractor, Capital Campaign team and all of us in prayer these past months.
Thank you for your support and encouragement of one another!
Peace,
Pastor Dan
