A RESOLUTION

FROM THE LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMIT TEE

TO A CHURCH CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON

NOVEMBER 7, 2004 AT 4:00 P. M .

FOR STEPS TO BE TAKEN FOR THE RELOCATION OF

FRANKLIN FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WHEREAS, the congregation now known as First United Methodist Church has existed in downtown Franklin, Tennessee and has been located for all of its 205 years within four blocks of its original site and the congregation has expressed earnest desire that the Church retain its historic downtown location; and

WHEREAS, for the past eighteen months, the Long Range Planning Committee of First United Methodist Church has been evaluating a number of possible options for the location and construction of facilities that will meet the present and future needs of the congregation; and

WHEREAS, the Long Range Planning Committee has thoroughly and exhaustively researched and evaluated all options for such facilities on properties presently owned or needed to be acquired for this to occur, and has determined that it is not feasible to expand the church facilities on the downtown property, nor is it feasible to continue in the present location based upon the present and projected growth of the church; and

WHEREAS, the future of the church should not be limited by short-sighted facilities which put future leadership in difficulties as ever increasing numbers of new members are being added with no further expansion possible downtown;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Long Range Planning Committee makes the following motion:

1. That the congregation affirm the Capital Funds Committee recently established by the Board of Ministry to begin raising the substantial financial support necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth herein.

2. That the Board of Ministry appoint a Building Committee to search for and negotiate for the purchase of appropriate land for a new site in the area. This site should be of sufficient size to house the entire church and its programs and ministries, with ample acreage for growth in the years ahead. The Committee is also authorized to engage the services of such business professionals (realtors, appraisers, etc.) and architectural professionals as are necessary to formulate a master plan for the development of the property and relocation of the church. Any final land purchase and development plans will be brought back to future Church Conferences for approval.

3. That the historic 1871 sanctuary on its triangular lot be retained with the objective that it continue as the site of ongoing worship activities along with other ceremonies and community outreach activities.

4. That all other First United Methodist Church downtown properties and properties received from the merger of Friendship United Methodist Church which are not deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Resolution will be sold and/or leased as deemed appropriate and in the best interest of the church and its ministries, with proceeds to be used for purchase of new land or for new construction of a facility to house all church ministries.

Unanimously adopted by Long Range Planning Committee of First United Methodist Church, Franklin, Tennessee, on October 18, 2004.