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R E V I S E D D R A F T (4/20/06)
FACILITIES EXPANSION AT FIRST PRES
A Brief Case Statement
History
Rationale
Expanded Rationale
Summary
History
After several years of consideration and discussion, in 2001 the Long Range Planning Committee proposed that the Session establish a Facility Expansion Planning Committee to focus directly on, and resolve, the facility expansion needs and priorities here at Kennewick First Presbyterian Church. The efforts of this new committee, chaired by Kevin Ferguson, were driven in part by a congregational survey which showed a desire to expand our physical plant on the present campus (rather than relocate elsewhere), while allowing for additional worshipers, an enlarged narthex, increased meeting and classroom space, and a number of FPC kitchen improvements, amongst other recommendations. The excellent work of the Facility Expansion Planning Committee included remodeling the current sanctuary, enlarging the present narthex, and either expanding or replacing the existing library wing. Cost considerations, however, brought a hiatus to these efforts, partly owing to the extensive additional renovation which would be required just to bring our current buildings up to code.
In the Fall of 2004 the Session asked George Garlick and Dan Kutschkau to lead a renewed effort which, building upon the substantial information generated to date, and taking into account both current and anticipated space needs and congregational growth, would develop a fiscally prudent recommendation for expansion of First Pres facilities. George and Dan have put together the VISION 2005, now the VISION 2006 – Building for the Future – Team to assist them in this effort.
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Rationale
The work of the VISION 2006 Team recognizes that we are here on earth for God's purposes and that we have come together at Kennewick First Pres to advance the Kingdom of God here is this corner of His universe. Indeed, our Mission Statement proclaims:
- We shall worship and glorify God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
- We shall love one another and our neighbors as Jesus Christ loves us
- We shall proclaim through word and deed the good news of salvation
- We shall promote spiritual growth
- We shall equip and empower our community of faith for ministry
With the growth and evolution of our congregation, however, we are sorely challenged in fully carrying out this mission.
The facility expansion needs that were identified more than 5 years ago included an enlarged narthex, additional classrooms and meeting space, and an expanded nursery. In the last 3 years, our need for both classroom and meeting space and a significantly larger narthex has become more acute. Moreover, we now have needs for more office space, workroom space for staff and volunteers, enhanced choir and bell choir practice and music storage space, conveniently located intimate prayer space, a larger kitchen that can be properly certified, worship space for more visitors and the physically challenged, and considerably more storage space.
In what follows, each of these facility expansion needs is related to a specific portion of our Mission Statement.
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The Rationale Expanded
We shall promote spiritual growth
Concern for the spiritual growth of our members and friends has always been a hallmark of KFPC. Sunday school for all ages, small group Bible studies, women's circles, YBs, LYFE, ALPHA, LOGOS, ChristCare groups, and so on. In the 12 years since First Pres Center was completed, we have outgrown its magnificent resources. For more than two years now, classroom and study space has been at a premium not only on Sunday mornings, but at other times of the week as well. And often, the competing demands of other activities, and the noises they create, substantially degrade the learning experience.
FACILITY NEED: Additional Classrooms
We shall equip and empower our community of faith for ministry
During virtually the entire week, First Pres is alive with activity -- from youth groups to adult groups, from study to training, from Boy Scouts to Deacons, from ringing bells to singing hymns, from planning to praying, from playing to pot-lucking. One glance at the church calendar shows that we are, time and again, "bursting at the seams." We are indeed a community of faith that loves one another, that is serious about ministry, and seeks to glorify God in all that we do. But, like classroom space, general meeting space is also at a premium.
FACILITY NEED: Additional Meeting Space
Every growing enterprise is generally accompanied by "growth pains." But how many within our congregation realize that we have a financial clerk who has to work out of a corner of the CE Directors' office, a staff associate whose office is in a corner of the Bell Room, and a treasurer who must store his records in the Library. And what do we do, for example, for workspace for our increasing cadre of volunteers involved in ministry and mission, or storage space for fellowship supplies, or staging space for auctions and Barnabas trips and Trailseeker activities?
FACILITY NEED: More Office Space, Workspace, and Storage
We shall proclaim through word and deed the good news of salvation
As new members have joined our congregation, many have come as young families (just look around the church.) Indeed, this is a key focus of our outreach efforts. We have over 30 young boys in our Cub Pack, there's a waiting list for LOGOS, VBS this past summer was "over the top," and Children's Worship keeps growing. But a significant deficiency, as we invite our neighbors and friends to join us in worship and proclaim God's word, is the size of our nursery. Two years ago, we reorganized the facility in order to accommodate more appropriately both babies and toddlers, but we've long since outgrown the available space.
FACILITY NEED: An Expanded Nursery
We shall love one another and our neighbors as Jesus Christ loves us
Being Presbyterians, Fellowship here at KFPC is often associated with food. From coffee hours to Elder/Deacon dinners, from receptions associated with weddings or memorial services to the Valentine dinner/dance, from new member reunions to PW socials and Men's retreats, from LOGOS dinners to all church affairs - you name it - the kitchen in FPC is a focal point of activity. Unfortunately, twelve years after its construction, it is now not only too small for current needs, it lacks commercial grade ovens and cook surfaces, as well as a walk-in cooler.
FACILITY NEED: An Expanded, Redesigned Kitchen
We shall worship and glorify God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
The official membership of Kennewick First Presbyterian Church (as of 3/24/06) is 698 members. This number includes more than 80 new members received into our congregation over the past two years, but has also been adjusted to reflect formerly active members moved periodically to inactive status. Additionally, some 135 regular visitors and approximately 200 children actively participate in worship. Moreover, during the past year alone, drawn by the reputation of KFPC as a friendly, caring church, almost 150 new local visitors have sought us out. On Sunday mornings we now have three separate worship services and both the Contemporary Worship service at 8:30 am and the Traditional Worship service at 11:00 am are very well attended. Our present sanctuary can maximally accommodate 250 people, if we allow 22"–24" per person in the pews (200 if we allocate a more reasonable 30" per person). The vast majority of Sundays, attendance exceeds 70% of the more comfortable figure for both the 1st and 3rd services. What's more, our current worship space lacks wheelchair accommodation, and is often hostile to the visually and hearing impaired. In addition, the influx and efflux of worshipers between services creates a "people jam" of significant proportions in our modest narthex.
FACILITY NEED: A Larger Sanctuary and a Larger Narthex
Music has always been integral to worship here at KFPC, and the contributions to our worship services of our several music groups, both vocal and instrumental, has been immeasurable. On Wednesday evenings, both the Praise Ensemble and the choir practices in the Sanctuary and the bell ringers are in the Bell Room, while on Sunday mornings the choir is in the Bell Room since it cannot warm up in the choir room owing to its proximity to our worship space. But how do we handle those Sundays when all groups are to be part of the worship service? At other times of the week, smaller musical groups meet in various places in the church, often not isolated, sound-wise, from other on-going activities.
FACILITY NEED: Additional, Dedicated, Music Space
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Summary
Since its formation, the VISION 2006 Team has been challenged by our Session to create a proposed expansion of our facilities which meets real needs engendered by the KFPC Mission – our collective desire to Center our lives on God, Connect with other believers, Cultivate spiritual maturity, Contribute our talents in ministry, and Communicate God's love to others. With the assistance of the architect selected, and your prayerful and considered input, the Team is confident that it is bringing forth a timely, visionary, and financially feasible facility expansion proposal that, when executed, will allow us to be significantly more effective in our Mission and will truly redound to God's glory.
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