Many of us are enjoying the lazy days of summer, but your Long Range Planning Team has been hard at work. Hopefully, you have had a chance to see the Master Plan booklet we received from Joel van Dyke and Mollie Pelletier, our architect team. Michael Bailey led several Town Hall gatherings in June, and you gave some helpful feedback. If you want to review the document, please click here.
With a high percentage of surveys, higher than most churches, (Great job, Fort Hill!) and other modes of input, we have good information from you. So thank you. In this edition you will find bar graphs that show two things: those facilities in most need of improvements and any new projects that would help us accomplish our mission. When I read that children and youth take a high priority, and know that our largest numbers of surveys were from folks over 50, that tells me that our members care about sharing good news and making disciples. A real concern is also accessibility around our maze of buildings. We are a warm congregation, but hospitality for guests will improve if they can find their way. For those with physical challenges, an elevator and better accessibility is critical.
(Click image for larger view)
So here are the Big Ideas the team came up with:
PHASE 1:
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- Improve Flow
- Wayfinding
- Gathering Space
- Flexible use of existing space
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- Accessibility
- Improve Visibility
- Education Building Renovation
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- Bethlehem Hall
- Youth Space
- Choir Issues
- Tartan Hall
PHASE 2:
- Large Fellowship Space
- Parking Issues
- Better PSA Space
- Showers
Fort Hill is in a good position to accomplish the task before us. We have an opportunity to “renew” our buildings for current use and growth. So thankful those before us had vision and prepared for the future so that we have what we need. Now it is our turn. (June 15, 2014)
After seven months of development, our Master Facilities Plan has been presented to session for their review. This is the first step in our process. Once this plan has been received, then the Long Range Planning Team will host some Town Hall gatherings in June to share some great ideas with you. Here are some of the findings that informed our plans which you provided.
We are grateful for your involvement and will provide opportunities soon to share the Master Plan with you. Here is a snapshot of some of what you shared. Please pray for this endeavor as we seek to serve and grow together with God’s help.
SURVEY RESULTS:
- 42% were invited by a friend or heard about the church through word of mouth.
- 48% joined for the preaching, teaching, and worship.
- 20% joined for the children/youth programming.
- 23% joined because of the friendly congregation. (June 1, 2014)
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations…” Ephesians 3:20-21a
Thank you to all members who took time to respond to the Congregational Survey for our Master Planning process. To date, we have provided a space use assessment to our Architects so they can learn how we currently use our space. We had a great “Design Builders” workshop on March 1 to help us focus on our plans on “people-centered architecture.” The workshop allowed us to put ourselves in the shoes of different kinds of persons and how they experience our church. Joel van Dyke and Mollie Pelletier, our Freeman ǀ Major architects, have spent the past month visiting the Fort Hill campus and meeting with staff and the Long Range Planning team. From all these inputs, they will work on some conceptual plans which the Planning Team and Session will review and have an opportunity for input. This is a process that will help us utilize our space better and prepare us for ministry in the 21st century. (May 2014)