In October 2022, the Session of Westminster (our governing body) commissioned an Organ Committee to assess the condition and future of our organ, particularly as it relates to worship and music ministry. After several months of study and input from experts, the committee determined that the organ is near the end of its useful life and that attempting to rebuild or refurbish it would be neither feasible nor financially responsible. At their July 2023 meeting, the Session affirmed that finding and charged the Organ Committee to research options for a new organ and appropriate enhancements to the sanctuary to maximize our experience of the spoken word and music. The sanctuary organ represents music in worship, an important aspect of our church’s life, but replacing it will entail a capital investment of several million dollars. This provided the congregation with both a responsibility and an opportunity to think beyond this specific need and focus on our overall ministry going forward in our neighborhood, region, and world.
Based on congregational input, the Session voted in October 2023 to continue developing a campaign between $4 and $7 million to include a new organ and acoustics, an accessible van or bus, an expanded columbarium, minor improvements to the Scout and youth rooms, a capital reserve fund, and a mission tithe of 10 percent. A facilities master plan, which includes a space utilization assessment to help us learn how best to use our existing space and how best to improve it, will be conducted from November 2023 to February 2024.
The Stewardship Campaign for the 2024 Operating Budget, will be conducted from October 29, 2023 through January 31, 2024, with the budget being adopted that day, as is our normal pattern. The Capital Campaign will begin around March 1, 2024. We are grateful for the congregation’s participation and input to date, and look forward to even more involvement as together we move forward with the ministry to which God has called Westminster in our community and around our world.
Capital Campaign Steering Committee
As specified by Session, Larry Hayward has appointed a Capital Campaign Steering Committee, which will serve as the administrative hub of the campaign, supported by Wayne Spaulding, our campaign director from Klote & Associates. We are grateful to all who have agreed to serve. The committee members are: Jane Ring (Honorary Chair)
Bob & Carrie Wood (Chairs)
Whit & Angela Ayres (Co-Chairs)
Alex & Janie Bryant (Co-Chairs)
Lanny & Susan Griffith
Madeline Ramsey
Debbie Wells
David & Melynda Wilcox