First Universalist Church Co-location Information and Listening - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

First Universalist Church Co-location Information and Listening Sessions April and May, 2019

Objectives for Today ● Describe vision and purpose for possible co-location with Shir Tikvah ● Provide more detailed information than previous updates - including legal structure and financial arrangements Describe our future without co-location ● ● Answer your questions and get your input using a workshop format ● Share next steps and ways to stay involved No decisions have been made; this is a real discernment process and the ● congregation will decide

History of Co-location Conversations with Shir Tikvah ● Exploratory meetings in 2015 and 2016 ● More focused meetings in fall 2017 ○ Plans for the building evolved with potential of 3rd floor ○ Reality check - we can’t afford the 3rd floor on our own ○ Clergy conversations continued about dream of co-location ● Board renewed focus in Sept. 2018 ● Board and working teams in deep discernment 2018-19

Who’s working on this? Steering Committee: Rev. Jen Crow, Cindy Marsh, Nancy Gaschott with Rabbi Latz, Bruce Manning, Jeremy Pierotti Finance/Legal Team: Nancy Gaschott, Keven Ambrus, Tom McLeod, Dick Niemiec, Cindy Marsh with Shir Tikvah members Communications: Cindy Marsh, George Dow, Jenn Stromberg, Deborah Talen, Dave Bach, Laura Johansson, Jen Crow

Vision of Co-location Environmental Stewardship Healing Justice Impact Brave Space: model for collaboration and new ways of being Financial Stability Increase possibilities for building with third floor addition

Joint Steering Committee Principles Co-location is a religious and spiritual project. We will pursue co-location conversations in the spirit of promoting hope, curiosity, integrity, and joy. In the light of these commitments, the Joint Steering Committee hereby agrees to the following principles to guide the work and discernment it does: 1. We will be driven by the ideas set forward above. 2. We will be inclusive and transparent with each other, sharing what we can, cognizant of the obligations we have to our own organizations. 3. We will listen to and learn from each other. 4. We acknowledge that we are making decisions under uncertainty and we will be patient with ourselves and be patient as information is developed. 5. We will be flexible, accommodating of changing issues and data needs, sensitive to the congregational political environment, and aware of constraints coming from our programmatic commitments to our own organizations’ ongoing work.

Vision of Co-location: Implications for our Racial Justice Mission We are committed to our racial justice mission, our visionary goals, and partnerships with community organizations with or without co-location - we will continue many of our programs, initiatives, and plans on our own With Shir Tikvah, our shared resources and commitment to racial justice equip us to be an even more powerful agent for change and possibility within our community. Together, we take a powerful stand against anti-semitism and white supremacy in all its forms, becoming an agent of healing justice.

Building Renovations & Co-location: What we’ve done so far ● Completed tuckpointing project ● Retired our debt ● Worked with architects and staff/congregant teams from First U and Shir Tikvah to make sure we can both meet our space needs in a co-located building ● Architects are now working on refining plans and cost estimates (joint First U and Shir Tikvah project)

Building Renovations & Co-location: What is planned? Enhance Dupont entrance and atrium to be more welcoming Move offices to first floor near entrance Remodel meeting rooms and classrooms in education wing Create large worship/open space on third floor; with bridge to balcony and Arches room Enhance sanctuary: new carpeting, hearing loop, accessible chancel, new A/V, paint and improved lighting

Building Renovations & Co-location: Advantages of third floor Allows Shir Tikvah to continue its tradition of worship in the round Becomes shared space outside of Friday evenings and Saturday mornings Is attractive space for large meetings and workshops, smaller services, weddings, external events and artistic performances, RE and adult programming Provides bridge to our balcony and makes Arches room accessible/usable

Co-location: Financial and Legal Structure ● A Financial Analysis and Legal Foundations (LAFF) Team was formed to address legal and financial issues ● Members of this team are legal and financial professionals from both congregations ● The team has met for several months and considered a variety of ownership and financial models and studied several real world examples of co-location between religious organizations

Co-location: Legal Structure ● First Universalist and Shir Tikvah would co-own 3400 Dupont (building and grounds) ● Each would retain its own Boards and legal identities and retain control over its religious, spiritual, and cultural elements ● We would create and jointly own a new legal entity, with its own Board, to manage and operate the building for the benefit of both congregations

Co-location: Legal Structure The new entity would be managed by a board comprised of representatives from First Universalist and Shir Tikvah Decision making will be shared and proceed by consensus Some functions may be shared and managed by New Entity: custodial services, scheduling, reception

Proposed Structure

Co-location: Legal Structure ● Formation documents would set out the rights and responsibilities of each congregation (financial and otherwise), and specify how the joint board would operate and manage the building ● Another agreement would clearly define the day-to-day operations, maintenance and management of the building ● Annual budgets would be developed, and would need to be approved by each congregation’s Board, detailing ongoing operating and maintenance costs, as well as long-term capital improvements.

Co-location Structure: Equity contributions for ownership and funding renovation ● Shir Tikvah contributes proceeds from its capital campaign, proceeds from the sale of its 1360 Minnehaha building and non-religious items (e.g. chairs & tables) ● First Universalist contributes 3400 Dupont building and grounds, proceeds from its capital campaign, and non-religious items.

Co-location: Funding the renovation ● The formation documents will include a timetable for mutually agreeable financial contributions from each congregation (including what happens if a party cannot meet its financial obligations) ● A financial model and budget for initial capital improvements would be agreed to, including sharing the cost of construction financing

Co-location Finances: Annual and ongoing expenses We would share annual operating expenses equally We would also share future maintenance costs and capital improvements and investments equally Each congregation will be required to make an annual contribution to establish a reserve for building maintenance and capital improvements Our financial due diligence assures us Shir Tikvah is equipped to handle these expenses

Co-location: Exit Strategy ● Formation documents will include dispute resolution and processes for “unwinding.” ● We like the idea found in one successful co-location that each congregation would agree not to take any action that would cause the other financial harm or threaten its ability to sustain itself long-term

Alternate Plan: Going forward on our own ● We continue as a vital and growing congregation deeply committed to Racial Justice Our mission, visionary goals, and community partnerships are independent ● of co-location with Shir Tikvah ● We will proceed with the renovation on our own; we will not seek another major partner for co-location We will complete the upgrades to the sanctuary, remodel of the education ● wing, and enhancement of the Dupont entrance and atrium

Remaining on our own: What we Gain Full control over the use of our building space for our needs Avoidance of possible distraction of initial time required to work out processes of co-location We don’t solve the parking problem for congregants or neighborhood - but we don’t exacerbate it Elimination of risks associated with co-location

Remaining on our own: What we lose ● Third floor large open space for workshops, programming, small services, weddings, and community events Third floor - additional meeting rooms and bridge to balcony and Arches ● rooms, making them accessible ● Cost sharing resulting in financial savings and increased stability ● Possibility of the powerful co-location vision: environment, healing justice, brave space, cross-cultural learning, partner for racial justice work

Frequently raised issues Parking Security Southside Child Development Center Neighborhood impact Please review FAQs (handouts and on website under Co-location tab)

Small Group discussions Small groups discussed joys and excitements, concerns, questions and proposed solutions These were posted for all to see This input was summarized along with input on the Feedback Forms (see congregant feedback reports under the co-location tab on our website)