Potential ECC Building Expansion

On Monday, May 12 at the 2^nd Quarter Conversation with the Elders, the Elders and Pastor Dan shared some updates on a potential building expansion. This update covered the following items:

1. Ongoing Building Space Needs
   1. There have been multiple discussions and even plans in our 19 years at Camden Rd. 
   2. Our current space needs:
      1. Kids Ministry – Primarily Sunday morning classes.
      2. Sunday morning adult classes. We can currently only hold two classes easily.
      3. Wednesday evening Etch electives limit us to four classes.
      4. Multiple uses by the community throughout the week suggest a need for medium-sized spaces. 
      5. A space for small weddings and funerals.
   3. Upon the Elder team request, the Property Team conducted a need assessment with staff and ministry leaders. This assessment was led by Dean Weller.
2. Exploring Our Building Expansion Options
   1. Designing of space to best meet current and future ministry needs. 
      1. Square footage: 10,000 – 14,000 
   2. Cost: TBD but likely a few million dollars.
   • 3. Use: Multi-purpose spaces including classrooms, expansion of room 101, and a few medium-spaces, a secondary entrance, as well as some additional bathrooms.
   • 2. The Elder board contracted with the Simmons Group on July 8, 2024, to explore the possibilities with proposed plans.
   • 3. final plan has been approved by the Elder board.
3. West Property (50 acres of farm ground)
   1. The elders had an inquiry from a developer in the Spring of last year to purchase the land, but the conditions were not acceptable.
   2. In order to have a better understanding of the value of the land, the Elders hired Terry Miller on June 3, 2024, for an appraisal of the West land. 
   3. The Elders are considering the sale of the farm ground to help partially fund the expansion.
   4. The elders have begun the search for a potential realtor.
4. Process and Procedure
   1. All decisions to sell any church property must be recommended by the elders and approved through a membership vote. 
   2. All final building plans must be recommended by the elders and approved through a membership vote. 
   3. Decisions about funding for a building expansion must be recommended by the elders and approved through a membership vote. 
   4. All information for these decisions will be shared at informational meetings before any votes by membership. 
5. Next Steps
   1. The Elders invite the congregation to be in prayer for wisdom and discernment with these big decisions. 
   2. The Elders will continue to search and recommend a realtor for a congregational vote. 
   3. The Elders and property team will finalize and recommend a building plan to the congregation, with a cost estimate for a vote.
   4. The Elders will explore financing for the building expansion and bring recommendations to the congregation for approval.
   5. The Elders will work to create a proposed timeline for the expansion project.

As with all big decisions, there is much work to do and many decisions to make. We seek to walk through this project with a continued emphasis on our mission to “Share Life, and Share Christ”. The building cannot be our vision, but it can help us accomplish it. This project will require participation and sacrifice from the entire congregation. Again, please be in prayer as you process the information and seek to provide input. As questions arise, please reach out to one of the ECC Elders or Pastor Dan. We look forward to all that God has in store for us and His Kingdom. May He get all the glory!