Are donations to the ministry expansion in addition to regular giving?

• ​Yes, donations to the ministry expansion are made over and above regular giving.

How will the church know money coming in is for the campaign?

• The financial coordinator is working closely with St. Paul’s financial secretary and treasurer to track incoming money and will ensure it is allocated to the correct funds.

How will we know what our options are to contribute (i.e. Through stock shares or other types of financial accounts)?

• Our Financial Coordinator, Mike Watkins, has information on contribution options and is working closely with Lutheran Church Extension Fund to answer any questions you may have.

Is this for the entire building project or just part of it?

• The initial plans drawn up for St. Paul by Grinsfelder & Associates in 2023 had four phases. Based on group interviews, survey responses, and small group discussions, it was apparent that the most pressing need of the congregation was providing accessibility to the building. Phase 1 of the plans included those changes and the goal of the Illumined by the Gospel ministry expansion campaign is to fund those changes. It will be up to the congregation to determine whether to pursue additional phases of the plan in the future.

Does this expansion include a covered entrance?

• Maybe. We have preliminary plans that we are working from as the basis for the design, but the architectural firm will determine what is truly feasible based on their assessments and research of the space.

Will there be an opportunity for changing the current designs to include other needs of the congregation?

• At this time, none of the plans and designs that have been shared are final. The architectural firm that is chosen will evaluate various possibilities and there will be continued dialogue with them as they work to draw up plans.

Will there be ADA compliant spaces in multiple locations?

• There will be ADA compliant parking that aligns with current ADA standards.

If we have to update our septic system as part of this project, do we have a plan for how that will happen?

• We have some thoughts on how that may look, but do not plan to explore those options further until we know that it will indeed have to be updated.

Have we hired an architect yet?

• We are currently in the process of interviewing two (2) potential architectural firms; Grinsfelder & Associates and Vintage Archonics.

Have we talked to contractors yet?

• We will begin considering contractors once we have determined an architect.

Will we have to raise a certain amount before breaking ground?

• Not necessarily. We will consider the commitments of the congregation as well as money on hand before determining when we will break ground.

This seems like a lot of money; is there a way to reconsider the plans so that we aren’t spending as much?

• Yes. As we move forward with the ministry expansion and see the amount of financial commitments being shared by the congregation, we will have a clearer picture of exactly what the scale of the project can be. If it is apparent that we will not meet our goal of $3.3 million, then decisions will have to be made as to how to proceed with the expansion.

How much have we spent so far?

• The campaign committee is preparing a breakdown of spending to share soon.