Building Expansion

Good morning,

Hopefully by now you’ve had a chance to watch the video of the congregational meeting from 9/9.  If you haven’t, you can view it here:  https://www.youtube.com/live/WLwGvyNfZIM.  Handouts from the meeting are in the church lobby.

We are scheduled to vote on the proposed building project on 10/5 after the worship service.  If you need an absentee ballot please see Cindy Rohrer this week.  On the ballot will be this question:

“I support the church pursuing the building expansion plan presented on 9/9 provided that the estimated cost from the chosen builder does not exceed $230,000 or the cash that the church has on hand, whichever is higher.”

That means is that if the vote passes and, as we continue on this process, we find that the estimated costs are significantly more than we have on hand in our accounts at that time, then we would come back to the congregation to re-propose the plan and how we are going to pay for it and then call for a new vote on the new plan.

In other words, even with a vote of affirmation the church would not consider going into debt without first bringing the matter before the congregation for a vote.

As I mentioned in the meeting, we believe we currently have the cash on hand to do this project.  So there won’t be a capital campaign or a pledge drive.  No one will be visiting with you and asking you for money.  However, we will still need folks to give to the project in order to keep the healthy margin in our finances that God has blessed us with.

According to the church constitution, the vote needs a 67% affirmation of the members of the church to pass.   However, I would like to see the affirmation much higher than that before I would feel comfortable moving forward.  The elders will make the final decision to continue the process based on the vote.  Just to be clear, that doesn’t mean that we might move forward with a 64% vote…it means that if only slightly over 2/3rds of the congregation affirms the vote then we will have to reconsider our options moving forward.

As in the past, all regular attendees of ABCF are able to participate in the vote.  However, the vote of the membership is what is considered in determining if the vote meets the 67% threshold.  Ballots will need to be signed.

If, after reviewing the materials, you have questions or concerns about the project, PLEASE see myself or one of the elders before the vote on 10/5. 

Here’s what’s happening:

1.  SUNDAY - It is time for a new church directory.  We are asking EVERYONE to fill out a directory information sheet, even if your information hasn’t changed since the last directory.  Forms are by the mailboxes and can be turned in to Tracy Alexander by Sunday.

2.  The church sponsors a table at the ICCM banquet (O.M. Panicker’s ministry).  It is on 10/2 at the Eden Resort in Lancaster.  Tickets are free…see me if you would like one.

3.   Looking for something to do this weekend?  MCC is holding its annual Quilter’s Yard-age Sale at its campus in Ephrata.  All sorts of items for crafters and sewers will be available for sale, including materials and finished goods.  Sale is tomorrow from 8 – 4 and again on Saturday from 9 to 1.  More info here: https://mcc.org/events/quilters-yard-age-sale-2025

This week we kickoff our fall sermon series! On Sunday we’ll begin our journey through the first half of the book of Acts as we study Jesus' final instructions to the disciples regarding what their purpose would be after He left them (and what our purpose is today).