Capital Appeal
Capital Appeal 2023-2025 Set to Kick Off on Sunday, October 16, 2022
ERLC is embarking on a new three-year capital appeal. Presently, seven appeal teams are being recruited and trained to lead the appeal. The Spiritual Life Team is working hard to secure 60 devotionals for the prayer booklet. May the Holy Spirit guide our steps. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Special Congregational Meeting for Capital Appeal Notice
Greetings Elk River Lutheran,
You may or may not be aware of our Building Committee’s and Church Council’s desire to move forward with a second three-year capital appeal. This has been shared via the last Building Committee and was discussed at their congregational forum on April 3rd. This letter is intended to share information about the need for a second appeal and invite you to a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 24th at 9:30am.
At the end of 2022, pledges will be fulfilled on our first appeal which yielded pledges of $815,000. As of today, we have received appeal gifts totaling $609,000. Thank you! We are so very, very grateful for the outpouring of generosity for our POWERED BY LOVE campaign.
Coming right on the heels of our first three-year appeal was COVID which has raised havoc with so much of life—including our life together here at ERLC. I have to believe all of us are relieved and grateful that some semblance of normalcy is returning.
Some of us may be asking, “Why another appeal and why haven’t we seen any facility renovations as a result of the first campaign?” The primary answer is that we have remained true to our commitment that we will not go into further debt to accomplish our remodeling goals. The good news is that we now have $400,000 in the Building Fund dedicated for renovations. The challenging news is that building prices have escalated markedly because of supply shortages related to COVID. Our architects now estimate first phase remodeling costs at $490,000. This includes remodeling the sanctuary, relocating and enhancing our main entrance, and repairing/replacing necessary sections of the roof (funding for the roof will come partially from the Building Fund and partially from our Deferred Maintenance Fund), but does not include some of the previously identified projects. The first phase of remodeling is tentatively scheduled to begin this fall and be finished by Christmas.
Your generous giving to the first appeal has allowed us to make mortgage principal and interest payments of $7210 per month out of the Building Fund since the establishment of the mortgage in 2020. Our current mortgage with the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA has a balance of $1.2 million, and we are in our third year of the twenty year mortgage agreement.
To continue servicing the mortgage, finish previously identified projects, further our goal of serving our community, and establish ourselves as an enduring, loving presence in downtown Elk River we need to envision raising additional funds for a second phase of construction. Our proposed second appeal would service the mortgage for 36 months, complete major exterior repairs & enhancements (namely updated signage, creating the outdoor gathering space, repairing stucco, and improving traffic flow), and even pay off a significant portion of mortgage balance, since in the last campaign we heard voiced the value of paying off debt early as a way of furthering future ministry growth and reach.
Some of us may be asking, “Is this the best time to proceed with another appeal?” This is always a good question to ask but, fact of the matter is—there is seldom a perfect time. Like any other season, some of us will be able to give little or nothing while others of us have been richly blessed and can give out of grateful and generous hearts. We have learned from other congregations that appeals during and after COVID have been a means of a) refocusing on congregational vision, b) rebuilding a deep sense of community, c) fortifying the general fund, while raising necessary capital to complete construction projects.
As your pastor, I believe we need to begin work on this appeal in late spring/early summer, so we can have a successful campaign in the fall. Secondly, I believe it’s reasonable and necessary that we once again utilize a consultant to bring energy and focused leadership to the appeal. The right consultant will have the time, training, temperament, and talent to guide us toward success.
On Sunday, April 24 at 9:30AM we will be holding a special congregational meeting seeking your affirmation of the Church Council’s desire to move forward with this second appeal, and, as such, will be asking for your support at this meeting.We will present the following motion for your prayerful consideration:
Be it resolved that ERLC move forward with a second capital appeal, commencing in the fall of 2022, and be it further resolved that ELRC enter into contract with New Horizons Congregational Consulting to again guide the entire appeal process.
Following is a fact sheet summarizing some of the pertinent information regarding our recommendations. Should you have questions prior to the meeting, don’t hesitate to be in touch with myself or any member of our Council.
With gratitude,
Pastor Nathan
You may or may not be aware of our Building Committee’s and Church Council’s desire to move forward with a second three-year capital appeal. This has been shared via the last Building Committee and was discussed at their congregational forum on April 3rd. This letter is intended to share information about the need for a second appeal and invite you to a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 24th at 9:30am.
At the end of 2022, pledges will be fulfilled on our first appeal which yielded pledges of $815,000. As of today, we have received appeal gifts totaling $609,000. Thank you! We are so very, very grateful for the outpouring of generosity for our POWERED BY LOVE campaign.
Coming right on the heels of our first three-year appeal was COVID which has raised havoc with so much of life—including our life together here at ERLC. I have to believe all of us are relieved and grateful that some semblance of normalcy is returning.
Some of us may be asking, “Why another appeal and why haven’t we seen any facility renovations as a result of the first campaign?” The primary answer is that we have remained true to our commitment that we will not go into further debt to accomplish our remodeling goals. The good news is that we now have $400,000 in the Building Fund dedicated for renovations. The challenging news is that building prices have escalated markedly because of supply shortages related to COVID. Our architects now estimate first phase remodeling costs at $490,000. This includes remodeling the sanctuary, relocating and enhancing our main entrance, and repairing/replacing necessary sections of the roof (funding for the roof will come partially from the Building Fund and partially from our Deferred Maintenance Fund), but does not include some of the previously identified projects. The first phase of remodeling is tentatively scheduled to begin this fall and be finished by Christmas.
Your generous giving to the first appeal has allowed us to make mortgage principal and interest payments of $7210 per month out of the Building Fund since the establishment of the mortgage in 2020. Our current mortgage with the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA has a balance of $1.2 million, and we are in our third year of the twenty year mortgage agreement.
To continue servicing the mortgage, finish previously identified projects, further our goal of serving our community, and establish ourselves as an enduring, loving presence in downtown Elk River we need to envision raising additional funds for a second phase of construction. Our proposed second appeal would service the mortgage for 36 months, complete major exterior repairs & enhancements (namely updated signage, creating the outdoor gathering space, repairing stucco, and improving traffic flow), and even pay off a significant portion of mortgage balance, since in the last campaign we heard voiced the value of paying off debt early as a way of furthering future ministry growth and reach.
Some of us may be asking, “Is this the best time to proceed with another appeal?” This is always a good question to ask but, fact of the matter is—there is seldom a perfect time. Like any other season, some of us will be able to give little or nothing while others of us have been richly blessed and can give out of grateful and generous hearts. We have learned from other congregations that appeals during and after COVID have been a means of a) refocusing on congregational vision, b) rebuilding a deep sense of community, c) fortifying the general fund, while raising necessary capital to complete construction projects.
As your pastor, I believe we need to begin work on this appeal in late spring/early summer, so we can have a successful campaign in the fall. Secondly, I believe it’s reasonable and necessary that we once again utilize a consultant to bring energy and focused leadership to the appeal. The right consultant will have the time, training, temperament, and talent to guide us toward success.
On Sunday, April 24 at 9:30AM we will be holding a special congregational meeting seeking your affirmation of the Church Council’s desire to move forward with this second appeal, and, as such, will be asking for your support at this meeting.We will present the following motion for your prayerful consideration:
Be it resolved that ERLC move forward with a second capital appeal, commencing in the fall of 2022, and be it further resolved that ELRC enter into contract with New Horizons Congregational Consulting to again guide the entire appeal process.
Following is a fact sheet summarizing some of the pertinent information regarding our recommendations. Should you have questions prior to the meeting, don’t hesitate to be in touch with myself or any member of our Council.
With gratitude,
Pastor Nathan
Update Fact Sheet
In the fall of 2019 ERLC members pledged $815,000 toward the following goals of our Powered by LOVE capital campaign:
$300,000 - Monthly Mortgage Payments
$200,000 - Sanctuary Remodel/Enhancements
$100,000 - Outdoor Beautification & Signage
$100,000 - Main Entrance Improvements
$50,000 - Deferred Maintenance (ie Roof Repair)
$250,000 - Additional Principal Buydown on the Mortgage
Phase 1 Construction Projects- Planned for Fall 2022
$400,000 - Sanctuary Remodel/Enhancement & Main Entrance Relocation and Improvement
$90,000 - Roof Repair/Replacement ($50,000 from appeal Building Fund & $40,000 from regular Deferred Maintenance Fund)
$300,000 - Monthly Mortgage Payments
$200,000 - Sanctuary Remodel/Enhancements
$100,000 - Outdoor Beautification & Signage
$100,000 - Main Entrance Improvements
$50,000 - Deferred Maintenance (ie Roof Repair)
$250,000 - Additional Principal Buydown on the Mortgage
Phase 1 Construction Projects- Planned for Fall 2022
$400,000 - Sanctuary Remodel/Enhancement & Main Entrance Relocation and Improvement
$90,000 - Roof Repair/Replacement ($50,000 from appeal Building Fund & $40,000 from regular Deferred Maintenance Fund)
The Next Appeal
As we envision the upcoming campaign we have identified the following needs, but as with the previous campaign, we will do a lot of listening to the congregation to shape our goals and scope.
Proposed Phase 2 Plans for the Next Appeal
$300,000 - Monthly Mortgage Payments
$200,000 - Outdoor Beautification & Signage -- Raise our visibility in the community by updating signage, reconfiguring the drive-thru and creating the previously envisioned gathering space for use by our congregation and the community.
$100,000 - Redash (repair) Exterior Stucco -- Needed not only for the cosmetic appearance of our building, but also longevity.
$250,000 - Mortgage Principle Buydown
Proposed Phase 2 Plans for the Next Appeal
$300,000 - Monthly Mortgage Payments
$200,000 - Outdoor Beautification & Signage -- Raise our visibility in the community by updating signage, reconfiguring the drive-thru and creating the previously envisioned gathering space for use by our congregation and the community.
$100,000 - Redash (repair) Exterior Stucco -- Needed not only for the cosmetic appearance of our building, but also longevity.
$250,000 - Mortgage Principle Buydown
