Provisional Facilities Task Force

First Presbyterian Church – Kalamazoo , Michigan

February 2, 2004

 

 

Background

 

In January 2002 a special Planning and Evaluation Committee began the examination of the Church’s present programs. The conclusion was that the present church facilities do not in many ways fit the needs or the programs offered by the church. The Planning & Evaluation Committee recommended the following priorities be followed in any future evaluation of Facility needs.

The recommendations were accepted by Session in February 2003. Session determined that the program items needed to be addressed before considering specific work to be done on the building. Session elected to evaluate the extent and effectiveness of church programs in each of the program priority areas. A part of this evaluation would be to determine whether the existing physical plant either impaired programs, or could with some modification enhance the programs.

 

Creation of Provisional Facilities Task Force

 

Recognizing the importance of a suitable church facility to carry out our ministry, the Session of First Presbyterian Church appointed the Provisional Facilities Task Force to explore the viability of the church’s ministry and the adequacy of its current facilities.

 

To accomplish this task with as much objectivity as possible, the Session voted to secure professional assistance with the capability of analyzing programs and matching physical plant space / equipment to those program needs. Kingscott Associates in Kalamazoo , represented by Mr. Brooks Godfrey was selected. The Session assembled a temporary task force inclusive of as much diversity in age; knowledge of church programs and operations; and expertise to work with Mr. Godfrey and the Kingscott staff.

 

Mr. Godfrey used a process which he described as “problem seeking”. Mr. Godfrey and / or his staff have contacted over 120 individuals and \ or groups to gain insight into the various programs with the objective of learning the purpose of each program, who participates in the program, the programs perceived effectiveness, weaknesses, etc. As this process has been proceeding, Mr. Godfrey has reported back his findings to the Task force every two weeks.

 

This report summarizes the results of the Problem Seeking Process.

 

 

 

Report - Provisional Facilities Task Force

First Presbyterian Church – Kalamazoo , Michigan

February 2, 2004

Report

 

Good news! First Presbyterian Church programs are viewed in a very positive light by the members interviewed (120+) by Kingscott. These compelling findings were reported to the Task Force by Brooks Godfrey, Architectural Consultant. Nearly everyone interviewed had positive comments about our ministries. Specifically noted were the excellence of our traditional worship, extensive ministries of mission, strong identification with the Health Clinic and community outreach. Also important is our resilient vitality as a downtown metro congregation (while others are declining), and a new sense of dynamism through the growth of younger family members and a leveling-off of our declining membership. The interviews also uncovered a number of issues and challenges.

 

Based on the interviews by Mr. Godfrey, the Task Force recommends that Session develop specific strategies in five program areas:

•  Outreach / Mission : Reaffirm our downtown location and ministry through renewed efforts to network with the city management, civic leadership, Bronson Park Churches, WMU, Kalamazoo College , and other church/non-church bodies. These efforts should include, but not be limited to future downtown planning and economic development.
•  Fellowship : Respond to members’ strong desire to increase opportunities for fellowship, encourage new and intergenerational friendships, and welcome strangers who may seek to be apart from the church family.
•  Worship : Move toward a new Sunday schedule that includes one main worship service, church school and adult education (separate hour from worship), choir rehearsal, fellowship time, and also consider an additional worship experience in a far different style and at another time.
•  Communication : Increase communication with congregational members regarding the wide range of ministries, financial needs to support these ministries, and a general knowledge of how we function through our programs and activities.
•  Membership : Renew the commitment to attract and retain new members, including the encouragement of “new target groups” such as downtown neighborhoods, singles, and young professionals new to town.

 

It has also become clear to the Task Force that these five program areas, along with many other concerns with the physical structure and its functional usage, must be addressed through future building renovation. Therefore, the Task Force further recommends that Session (guided by the Task Force) define and plan for renovation of the church facilities by addressing the issues of:

 

•  Accessibility and safety

•  Fellowship - Building a strong church community

•  Reaffirm and build upon our strong tradition and commitment to ministry with children, youth and their families, and the elderly

•  Reaffirmation of ministry of outreach through the Health Clinic within our facility

•  Commitment for renovation that includes a priority of maximizing multi-use with functional location of programs

•  Flexibility of space in all parts of the building (except sanctuary), shared by MACED, Boy Scouts and the general ministries of the church

 

Therefore, the Provisions Facilities Taskforce recommends that Session take the following steps:

 

 

This initial “programming” phase of the research by the Task Force and Mr. Godfrey has been extremely revealing. The positive comments have been very supportive of the existing ministries of First Presbyterian Church. As Brooks said more than once, “People love this church.” Through the “problem seeking” aspects of the interview process the Task Force learned that many of the ideas and issues expressed in the five program areas could begin to be addressed immediately and with little or no financial cost.

 

The Provisional Facilities Task Force would like to thank the members of the congregation for their support of this process and willingness to share thoughts and dreams with Mr. Godfrey and the Task Force. For those who were unable to meet with Mr. Godfrey, there will be ample opportunity to comment in future meetings.

 

By considering first and foremost our vision for an effective ministry and the appropriate space needs to carry it out, we believe that we can develop a plan for renovating our current facilities that we can all support and enjoy as we pursue together our ministry in Christ. We remain committed to a practice of seeking the advice and counsel of the congregation and a regular reporting process to the entire church.

 

Provisional Facilities Task Force

First Presbyterian Church – Kalamazoo , Michigan

February 2, 2004

 

 

Proposed Timeline

 

January 28     Present report to Session (provide ahead of meeting)

Session approves report

          Session receives and authorizes site survey RFP and refers to P & M and

gives authorization to complete site survey

      Review RFP for Fund Development and Financial Feasibility

 

February 13   Receive Site Survey Bids by P & M Committee

 

February 16   P & M Committee Review bids for site survey and make recommendation to Session.

 

February 21   Session approves site survey contract

(retreat)   

 

February 22   Session and Task Force present report to Congregational Meeting

 

March (early)   Special Session meeting called to move forward with Conceptual

  Design including a kick-off Charette

 

March 24        Session awards Fund Development and Financial Feasibility contract

 

April 5             Complete Site Survey

 

April 28           Present Concepts & Cost estimates to Session and Task Force

 

May 26           Session reviews Concepts and Cost estimates

 

June 23           Session approves Final Concepts and Costs Estimate

  Session receives Fund Development and Financial Feasibility results

 

July 28            Session selects Final Plan for presentation to the Congregation

 

September       Session presents Final Plan, Cost Estimates, and Fund Development and

Financial Feasibility to Congregation Present Fund Development Plan

 

Next Steps   

 

 

Kingscott Findings (For reference only, four reports are attached)

 

Findings

 

These reports represent Kingscott’s findings about First Presbyterian’s programs and the space requirements to effectively support those programs. They include concise (and sometimes cryptic) notes, comments, or suggestions that may represent a single individual or the majority of interviewees, Kingscott recommendations and feedback from the Task Force.

 

As a result, the reports are not stand-alone documents that fully and accurately represent the results of the process. They were extensively expanded and interpreted during Mr. Godfrey’s discussions with the Task Force. In the Summary the Task Force has attempted, with Mr. Godfrey’s help, to accurately represent the major findings, issues, and recommendations that emerged from the ‘problem seeking’ phase.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Provisional Facilities Task Force

 

Dick Baker

Deb Bender

Ann Cavanaugh

Wilma Cooper

Tala Davidson

Randy Eberts

Sue Forsch

Bruce Goethe

Allison Hammond

Bassam Harik

Dick Hodgman

Jeanene Lewis

Judy Maze

John Petro

Julie Shaw

Bill Sorensen