WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON?
We are voting to authorize the Board to ratify an accepted offer of $525,000 for the purchase of real estate.
Details on the property can be found below.
We are also voting separately to approve our 2021 Budget.
You can read the Congregational Letter mailed with a ballot to each voting member on January 11, 2021.
ABOUT THE PROPERTY
The property is located at 5200 E. 31st Street S. in Wichita. It is a former daycare.
In addition to the downloadable information packet, here are a few features:
CLICK HERE TO SEE A BRIEF VIDEO WALK-THRU VIDEO TAKEN BY THE BOARD
You are invited to see this property before you vote.
We will have the property open for walk-throughs on the following dates:
questions & answers
In this section we will post quetsions we've received from the congregation as they come in, and offer any information we have to effectively answer those questions.
What are the average utility costs?
Utilities averaged $700-900 per month over the past several years.
By comparison, our average utilities over the same period were $3,200 per month.
What about Oasis and Southwind Sangha?
There is sufficient space to accommodate our tenants.
We will invite them to come along with us on this journey.
What about the money? How are we going to pay for this?
As of December 31, 2020 we had $930,000 in endowment funds available. We will utilize endowment funds to purchase the property. We will use funds from the sale of our existing property to pay for necessary renovations. This will allow us to keep a significant cash reserve at the conclusion of the process without incurring any debt.
IF WE VOTE TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
We will complete the purchase on February 26, 2021. In March we will move the office to the new location and begin making arrangements to create enough space for online worship to transition to the facility.
We should have the ability to move in phases, given that our facility is currently closed. This should make for an orderly, logical transition so that everything is set up and operational by the time we are able to resume worship and activities.
We will schedule a sealed-bid auction on the Pilgrim property for March or April, 2021. This will provide the necessary funds to complete renovations to the new property. We will then finalize an interior design plan to renovate the space for our eventual return to in-person worship and gatherings so that everything can be completed beforehand.
We intend to invite our current tenant and user groups to come along with us, as there will be space available for everyone in the new facility. We will continue to embody our vision statement, "everyone welcome, seriously everyone."
HOW WILL VOTING BE CONDUCTED?
In accordance with our Constitution and Bylaws, and given the unusual timing of this vote,
every active member of the congregation will receive a ballot by mail.
For your vote to be counted, you must sign and return your ballot on or before Monday, February 1, using the included self-addressed, stamped envelope. You may also return your ballot directly to the office during business hours prior to February 1 or leave it with a Board member after you tour the building on PLACEHOLDER. The results will be tallied by two individuals selected by the Board, and will be announced in worship and in the Communicator newsletter.
We invite you to pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit, and ask if God is inviting us to do a new thing.
We welcome your comments in the meantime, as we deliberate together ahead of the vote.
