Teaching & Inspiring
Faith for All
Greendale Community Church
6015 Clover Lane
Greendale, WI 53129
414.421.1221 phone
414.421.2180 fax
[email protected]
Capital Campaign
2015
Timing is Right for Final Capital Campaign
BY JEFF JORDAN, CHAIR
This is the time. We are rapidly approaching the conclusion of our second capital campaign. By the end of 2015,
we expect to have paid off close to 75% of our building project. For a congregation with an annual budget of just
over $400,000, what we have achieved is amazing!
As we celebrate 75 years as a vibrant congregation in our community, now is the time to look forward. What
do we want our future to hold? What would we like to do more of? What would prevent us from getting there?
Save
the Date
Oct. 4 –
Campaign
Through interviews and surveys with the recent feasibility study, we affirmed this was the right building project
for us to tackle. It turned out to be just what we wanted. But the remaining debt limits us from using our financial
capacity to think and act more broadly. So now is the time, with interest rates and the economy on our side, to
make that final commitment and pay off our project.
It is certainly within reach. The feasibility study confirmed our commitment to fiscal responsibility and eliminating
our financial debt. We have realized a dream of making our internal space more hospitable, more open, and
more friendly! In October, we will be asked to prayerfully consider how we can share our gifts and blessings to
prepare Greendale Community Church for greater service.
Free of financial burden, the possibilities of where we direct our dollars are endless. Do we support more mission work? Do we expand our programming? Do we continue to enhance our physical building? Do we have
a larger presence in the community?
When our founding members started this church and built the original building, faith motivated them as they
considered what was possible. We have that same opportunity now by faithfully retiring our debt so that we
can more clearly see what is possible. We can write this final chapter of our building project: “It was with
hearts filled with gratitude to God that the faithful stewards of the church raised more than $500,000 to
repay the remaining debt of the building project.”
With God’s grace we can all be a part of completing this great story of Building our Future on a
Foundation of Faith. With this final campaign, we are “Teaching and Inspiring Faith for All.” Be a part of it!
Kickoff
Oct. 11 –
Pledge Packet
Distribution
Nov. 1 –
Commitment
Sunday
Nov. 8 –
75 Anniversary
Celebration
th
Latest Developments With Our 2015 Campaign
T R U S T E E S & O F F I C A L B O A R D A P P R O V E N E W F U N D R A I S I N G C A M PA I G N - B Y H O W A R D Y O U N G
The Board of Trustees and the Official
Board approved a new fundraising campaign to hopefully retire the debt on the
new education wing.
We engaged the same consultant we used with our initial
2008 campaign to conduct a
feasibility study on the likelihood of paying
off our remaining debt. We hope to retire
our remaining mortgage of approximately
$475,000 in the next three years beginning in 2016. Jeff Susor, our consultant,
concluded from the study results that it is
feasible with a lot of help from you, the
congregation.
The campaign for the next three years will
include both the capital debt retirement and
the annual operating budget in a single
fundraising campaign. So why do we want
to pay off the mortgage rather than take
more years to pay off our debt? Here are
some reasons that are important to me:
1) Our monthly mortgage obligation is
$4,472. Despite our low 3.9% interest rate,
more than $1,600 of this is interest. At our
current interest rate, retiring the debt in
the next three years reduces our full-term
interest cost by more than
55% ($51,000 vs. $116,500).
That cost only increases as
future rates will likely rise.
These interest charges do
nothing to further the mission of our church.
2) Paying off the mortgage sooner allows
us to turn focus to future ministry rather
than our internal infrastructure.
3) Other churches that had substantial debt
from building projects have seen a decline
in new members joining the church. Often,
this is due to prospective members being
hesitant to join and be a part of paying off
a large debt.
4) We have other needs in the older parts
of our building. Eliminating the mortgage
now may allow us to address some of these
without the extra burden of mortgage payments.
Do You See What I See?
A V I E W F R O M T H E E D U C AT I O N A L W I N G - B Y N A N C Y K R A S E
Years ago, there was a column in the local paper, The Village Life, called “View from the Hill”, written by
Doris Krupinski, one of our members, who has now passed. It contained up close and personal stories
that were charming, heartwarming, and made you love Greendale even more! I could write a similar
column, calling it “View from the Educational Wing”! I spend most of my Sundays making the rounds,
talking with kids and parents, and being the “go to person” for Sunday School. When I started this
position five years ago, we were still in the basement of the church. Were you here last year when the
weather sirens went off during Sunday service and we had to shelter in the basement? You could not
have believed that before the new education addition, we would shuttle our kids to that same basement
for Sunday School! It was dark, damp, loud, depressing, and gray.
We are fortunate to have been founded by a group of inspired women who knew God in a way that we
all hope to find in our lifetime. They believed that we each discover God within ourselves, that we should
not be told what we should believe, and the learning that happens here is meant to give us the information to make those choices. It was a bit of a radical idea then, and in a world of evangelical Christian
churches, it still is. Answers? We don’t have them, but we encourage the children to learn from the
radical stories of Jesus, study, pray, and know that God is always there, as close as their breath.
So, my view from the Educational Wing includes these things: children happy to go to their classroom,
being with their friends, and loving their teachers. Children are learning that they are responsible for how
God shows up in this world and are noticeably being kinder and more respectful of each other. Little
ones are learning how to play together, create together, and become a unit of friends who take care of
each other. Children aren’t afraid to ask questions and get excited when they connect the dots and see
that the ideas from other faiths actually are more like what we believe than are different. And if that’s
true – it’s true of all people, too.
One of my favorite questions came this summer from one of our children who asked, “If you live on
Clover Lane, where do you go?” I thought he was asking about what school you go to --- but no. He
thought that the lines of church membership were drawn out the same way they were for school attendance. When we told him that that was one of the great things about America is that we believe and
respect that everyone makes their own choice on where they attend church or how they worship
God --- he felt a great relief, accompanied by a smile.
With this freedom there is also responsibility. We are responsible for making sure that we continue
to provide great classrooms, teachers, and inspired lessons for our children. This allows them to
make the choices within the framework of freedom we allow in our country, to develop into loving,
kind, responsible adults. What we learn here isn’t just for Sunday morning --- it’s for a lifetime.
Thank you for supporting this education. It’s something we all benefit from now, and will for
generations to come.
Something To Be
Proud Of
HARD TO BELIEVE IT’S BEEN ALMOST THREE
YEARS - BY GREG KEMPEN
As I look at the church today, there
is so much for which we all can
be pleased. The focus was on the
Sunday School/Playschool and I think
we created something that we can be
proud of and it will continue to serve
the congregation well for many years.
The new classrooms with windows
and lots of storage provide a great
space for the kids to learn.
As proud as we can be of the Sunday
school, there are many other things
to be pleased about:
• Safe and convenient drop off and
parking for our members
• New roof ending years of constant
repairs
• Energy efficient boiler and air
conditioning, saving us money and
ensuring years of reliable service
• Updated fellowship hall
• Convenient and pleasant bathrooms
• Nicely landscaped building
• Plenty of storage space
Back in 2002, the building committee was
formed to review concerns identified by
the congregation. The classrooms were
dark and air was heavy, the bathrooms
were outdated, the roof leaked. We had no
parking or drop off, and space and storage
were in short supply. We were involved
nearly 10 years in the needs assessment,
master planning, permitting and design
before we saw what we would accomplish.
It was a journey where the destination was
unclear, but faith and hope guided us and
helped us continue when things seemed
bleak.
As an architect, I have personally seen
many of these transformations. But this
one was different. It was not my project, it
was not a client’s project, it was our project
and it reflects our hopes and dreams as
a community of faith working together. It
gives me great pride every time I see our
church and what we accomplished.
questions &
answers
Q: What impact has the building project had on our operating budget?
A: Since January, 2013, we have added a $5,540 monthly principal
+ interest payment to our operating budget. This is a $66,000 annual
budget impact. The current second capital campaign has covered
this additional expense, along with enabling us to make some additional principal payments.
feasibility study
highlights
STUDY REVEALS STRONG
SUPPORT FOR PROJECT,
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The recent feasibility study conducted
by our financial consultant provided
us solid data to support embarking on
a final capital campaign. We heard
from 82 voices out of our 222 giving
Q: What are the terms of our current building loan?
A: In June, we renegotiated our original loan rate from 6% down
to 3.9%. This reduced our monthly principal + interest payment to
$4,472. This rate is in effect through the end of 2018, coinciding with
the end of our final capital campaign.
Q: Why are the terms and structure of our loan different than a home
mortgage?
A: Unlike homeowners, churches are considered commercial businesses under federal banking regulations. Therefore, lending institutions can only offer commercial loans to churches, with interest rates
subject to renegotiation after three years.
Q: What other options might we have to service our loan other than
a third capital campaign?
A: We could continue to include our monthly principal + interest
payments in our annual operating budget for the next 12 years or
until the loan is retired. Without another capital campaign beginning
in 2016, we would need to increase our annual giving to cover the
loan expense because we would no longer have the assistance of a
capital campaign.
units. Here is what we learned about
ourselves:
• Strong trust, satisfaction with church
mission effectiveness (90% favorable),
leadership and decision-making (84%
favorable), financial stewardship (89%
favorable)
• 96% believe building project turned out
as well or better than expected
• 74% favor new three-year campaign to
pay down remaining debt
• 90% would financially support third
campaign
• Four giving units have already indicated intention to contribute $20,000 to
campaign; largest gift to second campaign was $15,000
W H AT O U R G I V I N G H I S T O R Y
TOLD US
• 179 giving units contributed to the project since 2008
• 33 units gave $10,000 or more to the
project; 53% gave more than $2,500
• In 2008, 50 units doubled their giving;
73% increased giving by over 25%
• We have received 97% of the project
funds pledged
• For second campaign, new support
accounted for 19% of funds pledged
or given
W H AT PAY O F F I N 3
YEARS MEANS
• $65,350 interest cost savings
• Comparison of 3-year vs.
12-year payoff: $51,000 vs.
$116,500 (55% savings)
Well Worth the Wait
PROJECT DEEMED AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS - BY CHUCK FOULKE
Looking back to January, 2013, I’d say the new building addition has been an overwhelming success. The
positive comments and compliments from church
members and others and the frequent, bustling activities in the new space clearly testify to that. The journey
to the new building began on September 22, 2002,
with the kickoff of the Building Committee. We wrestled
with remodeling existing space vs. building new space
and early on decided to move in the direction of new
space. We dreamed big and ventured into a total new
building replacement with two different architects.
Through this process, we realized we needed to think
in terms of phases rather than a one-time total building
replacement. Because the driving need for new space
centered on educational programs, better traffic flow,
and ADA access and restrooms, we put our energy
into a Phase One Educational Building while at the
same time developed a long range plan for a new
sanctuary and expanded fellowship space.
The new building construction began at a perfect time
for me because I was recently retired. Throughout my
career, I was involved in construction projects, so this
project was a natural fit. I quickly became immersed
in the day-to-day construction and became the liaison
between the church and the construction manager.
Along the way, we encountered a number of “opportunities” with the old building that needed immediate
attention. This generated a more extensive list of other
items in the old building that needed addressing. One
thing lead to another and eventually I “fell” into the role
of building manager for both new and old buildings. It
was one way I could give back to GCC for all it has
given me over 29 years and this role provided great
enrichment in my retirement years.
IN OUR OWN WORDS...
This is space that would really attract me if I had children. It’s very family-oriented and the space seems modern
and nice.
The church infrastructure has never looked so good and is well-maintained.
The way the building was configured before, we could only sponsor one thing per night. Religious Education programming has taken off. Multiple things can co-exist.
We’ve taught Sunday School in the past and the basement was gruesome. The look and quality of the building are
wonderful. Greg did a great job leading that committee.
The work completed was shared in detail and in advance with congregation and there was solid support for the work and priorities.
We have extra space to have classrooms in a light-filled, healthy environment. We have yoga classes and others in the evenings,
which were impossible before.
[The building addition] was really well done. The original concept was unrealistic, but we ended up with a good compromise. I think
it meets our current need very well.