Questions and Answers

re: Church Conference on Feb. 12

Franklin First United Methodist Church

February 5, 2006

1. What is happening next Sunday?

On Sunday, February 12, the church will meet in conference at 4 p.m. at the Fourth Avenue Church of Christ.

At this meeting, the assembled church members will be asked to approve the purchase of property unanimously recommended by the Site Selection and Building Committee as the new location for Franklin First United Methodist Church.

2. Why is FUMC moving?

We’re moving because we cannot accommodate our current membership in our church facilities today and cannot renovate or expand our downtown campus to make it work. Our membership has grown by more than a third and our Sunday School attendance by more than 81 percent since 2000 and our growth continues.

The church voted to move in a church conference held in November, 2004. That decision followed a two-year study that concluded there was no reasonable way to accommodate our growth downtown.

As a church, we have decided that we will not turn people away from our doors. God has given us a challenge. We will rise to the call.

3. Where is the property?

The recommended property is a 110-acre site that faces Mack Hatcher Parkway near its intersection with Franklin Road. It adjoins Harlinsdale Farm on the south and sits directly across the Parkway from Battle Ground Academy.

4. Does the church need 110 acres? 

Only about half of the 110 acres is suitable for construction because it lies within a 100-year flood plain. The land available for construction will more than meet our needs for today and for the years to come. The remaining space will give the church an almost park-like campus.

Nonetheless, it is a lot of land. But remember our perspective must be for the long term – the very long term. We must be responsible and visionary enough to build a new home for our church that will accommodate its needs for 100 years and beyond. We have been blessed. Let’s expect to be blessed again and again and again.

While we may later decide that we do not need this much land, there will be many opportunities for compatible uses available for the church to evaluate over time.

This property has the unanimous recommendation of the members who have been looking at land for more than a year.

5. Why is this property recommended?

This property has been unanimously recommended because it uniquely meets the many requirements outlined by the Site Selection and Building Committee in its search for a new church location.

Over the past 14 months, the committee has reviewed more than 15 parcels of land in and around the City of Franklin.

The committee was looking for:

o       Property within the Mack Hatcher Parkway,

o       Property enough to accommodate our members today and for our growth in the century to come,

o       Property that can be conveniently accessed by members new and old,

o       Property the church can afford, and

o       A place of beauty, upon which to build a beautiful and historic new church.

6. How much is the property going to cost?

The intensely negotiated purchase price for the property is $5.8 million.

7. How are we going to pay for this move?

Our members will pay for the property and a new church through current assets, gifts and annual contributions. We will finance the purchase and construction through a loan and pay it off over time. Several banks are making proposals for financing.

8. Can this congregation afford this?

Yes, we can. This is a bold venture, to be sure, but experts in capital gift fundraising tell us that this congregation has the wherewithal to support this move at this price. What’s more, we must believe God has led us to this move, and that He will help us see it through successfully.

9. Why don’t we just build a second church somewhere else and let the “extra” people go there?

The question of “whether” to move or “how” to accommodate our wonderful growth was settled more than a year ago. The church voted in full conference in November 2004 to move.

We’re moving. The only question is: Where? Now we believe we have that answer as well.

10. How can we afford to move when we haven’t even paid off the debt on the new Sunday School building?

The sale of our education facilities will retire that debt with the balance being available toward this land purchase. The debt is being reduced with monthly payments at this time. In addition, our growth in membership has also meant a growth in giving as well.

11.  When will we move?

It will take at least two to three years to purchase the land, prepare it, design the church, build it and furnish it.

12. What will the new church look like?

We don’t know yet. We do know that the congregation has clearly said they want a church that reflects our 200-year heritage and the splendor of our Historic Sanctuary. Also, we will want a church that complements the natural beauty of the property we have selected.

The plans for the new church – which has not been designed -- will be approved by members at another church conference. The vote next Sunday is to approve the property only.

13. Do we know what the interior design of the new church will be?

We don’t know. There are literally thousands of questions to answer about the new church. It’s very exciting and, at the same time, a great responsibility. Answers to these and many other questions will be resolved in the months to come.

14. What will happen to the Historic Sanctuary?

It will remain a part of First United Methodist Church.

15. What will happen to the Sunday School building?

It will be sold or leased in the move.

16.  How much is our church debt today?

The current church capital debt is $2.6 million. The sale of the education building will retire that debt and excess proceeds will be invested in the property and construction for the new church.

17. What happens if the church votes this recommendation down?

Then we will lose this extraordinary opportunity, a year’s worth of work will be cast aside, and our work to find a new home will begin again.

It is the belief of committee members that it is unlikely we will be able to find property of this size, price, beauty and proximity to downtown in the near future. They believe this land a unique opportunity and only lesser options will be available to the church if the members reject this recommendation and ask the committee to continue its search.

This church is going to move. That’s already been decided by a vote of the church membership. This property has the unanimous recommendation of the members who have been looking at land for more than a year.

18. Doesn’t it cost too much to move?

No. Our church has been blessed and is growing at an unprecedented pace. Whether we stayed downtown and rebuilt the church or made the decision to move, we were challenged with spending a significant amount of money. There is no “free” or “cheap” option to accommodate our success.

19.  Who gets to decide what the new church will look like?

The members will decide. This church has many committee opportunities where people who are truly interested and dedicated to the church and its future can contribute and lead. These committee members will – together – shape our new home.

20.  Isn’t this property inconvenient for some of our members?

The land’s location next to the Mack Hatcher Parkway will make it very convenient for most. Any other property that meets our needs will be far more inconvenient than this property.

21.221.   What happens to the existing buildings on the recommended property?

We don’t know yet. They will be evaluated as we design the new church facility to determine whether they can be preserved and become part of our campus. Don’t forget, this property is for sale. Someone will buy it and affect it. We believe FUMC will be a good and responsible trustee of this property.

22. 22. Will any committee members profit from the land purchase?

 No. While the site selection and building committee includes professionals in real estate, engineering, contracting, law, and property development, all members are donating their time to this project. No commissions, fees, or other charges have been incurred or requested by any committee member. The actual monetary value of the services rendered so far at no cost is extraordinary.

23.  23. Given the City’s special interest in this property, do we have any guarantees that we will even be permitted to build on the site?

This property is part of the Franklin Road Small Area Plan now being considered by the Franklin Municipal Planning Commission. However, the current zoning, Estate Residential, allows churches as conditional uses without the need for rezoning. We will need site plan approval from the Planning Commission. The preliminary studies done by an architect have not identified serious problems. Our agreement with the property owners gives us adequate time to pursue necessary approvals.

If for any reason the City does not grant us necessary approvals, we are not required to close on the purchase of the property.

24.  24. What other parcels were considered?

More than 15 parcels of land were reviewed by the committee – some as small as 20 acres and some as large as 201 acres. Many of these sites will be reviewed at the church conference meeting on Sunday.

25.  25. What happens if we buy the land and for some reason don’t build a church?

If we purchase the land but do not eventually build a church on it, we could sell the land. However, it is the clear intention of the church to use this land for our new church home.

26.  26. What are the next steps?

The next step is for the church to make a decision on the property on Sunday, February 12. If the church approves the property, church committees will go to work to:

·         Finalize the purchase of the property,

·         Begin work on financing and fundraising,

·         Begin work on the design and site plan for the church.

27.  27. Is it important that I attend the conference?

Of course! Every member has an important stake in this vote. The future home of our church will be decided and you have a voice and vote– whether you’ve been a member for a month or for decades. This is a decision for our members today, and for our children – and for our children’s children.

Please come to the meeting with your questions, your comments, your vote and your prayers.

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