Dear Members of St. Paul's,

We encourage you to read carefully the SPARK Feasibility Study findings summary below. The study, produced by The James Company, addresses the status of building proposal and other issues in the congregation.

We thank the Holy Spirit that people were honest and frank in the confidential interview process. Representatives of The James Company stressed that comments were charitable and were shared out of a love for the congregation. That's a foundation for us to build on as we address the recommendations on many levels.

Copies of the full feasibility report are available in the church office for reading.

The executive board has set the weekend of January 21 and 22 for gathering times to discuss the study.

Feasibility Study Findings

The James Company recently completed the Feasibility Study for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School that tested the proposed building plans and assessed the readiness to launch a capital stewardship campaign.

Participation

Over eighty (80) individuals participated in two church-wide Information Gatherings. One hundred and three (103) households responded to either the written survey or participated in confidential interviews with The James Company, which represents approximately 17% of our contributing households.

Thank you to all who took the time to help assess the proposed facility plans and participate in creating a vibrant future for this community of faith.

Opportunities

The following positive opportunities were identified in the study:

There is a consensus for addressing the facility needs of the church and school. There is a willingness to provide financial support for a project and to volunteer in a capital stewardship appeal to raise the funds needed to move forward.
There is a solid core of committed, talented, and generous members who provide strong leadership and are highly committed to the mission and ministry of St. Paul’s.
There is sincere appreciation for the “hard work” that has been done by many dedicated leaders to provide the congregation with a plan to evaluate.
Addressing the facility needs has provided a springboard for the congregation to step back and assess how the proposed plans reflect the present and future ministry needs of the congregation. People realize that the building is a tool for ministry and one cannot evaluate a building plan without evaluating the ministry that is served by the facilities.
Respondents spoke and wrote with passion, clarity, and a strong desire to explore what the next right steps are for the near and long term in regards to the mission and ministry of St. Paul’s.

Challenges

A number of challenges were identified in the study. The following represent concerns that would negatively impact a capital stewardship appeal:

Scope of the project. The size and cost of the preliminary plan is perceived by many as too big for the congregation. In a variety of ways, respondents questioned whether the plan represented needs or wants. A few respondents questioned investing in a project of this magnitude on the flood plain.
Finances. The financial capability of the congregation to handle a project of this size is a concern. Most often referenced were the financial responsibility to the school, the economy, and General Fund deficits.
The overall vision for the Church and School. Many questions and concerns revolve around the future direction of the school and subsequent space needs based on decisions that need to be addressed in relationship to enrollment projections.
Lead gifts. Based on The James Company’s experience, there was not a strong enough lead gift potential from the Interview Group to support raising $2.0 - $2.5 million. This does not mean that St. Paul’s could not raise $2.0 - $2.5 million, but that it will take a stronger broad-base of support to meet the financial goals. The goal of $2.0 - $2.5 million is the pledged amount necessary in order to break ground.

Recommendations

The Feasibility Study clearly outlines both opportunities and challenges. The study does provide confidence to lead St. Paul’s to the next phase of planning. The James Company makes the following recommendations:

The scope of the proposed building project needs to be revisited.
The future direction of the school needs to be assessed.
Church finances need to be addressed in relationship to General Fund deficits.
St. Paul’s should consider a church-wide visioning process that focuses on defining the missional objectives for ministry. Plans for the building project need to be based on congregational ministry objectives. This will build a stronger sense of understanding and ownership for the proposed building project.