A View of the Future details the plans for expanding our sacred space in the parish hall. Click here to view a PDF copy. We thought you might have some questions about the campaign. Here are answers to some of the most common questions. If we haven’t answered your question, please contact us or come in for a cup of coffee.
We are a vibrant, expanding parish that has seen growth in membership, church attendance, religious education attendance, ministries to serve and know God more fully, and outreach programs to help others in our surrounding community.
The size of the campus is finite so lacks ground to “add on.” The Parish Hall and wings are over 50 years old with outdated electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and hurricane safeguards. Expanding and reconfiguring will provide safer more efficient, aesthetic spaces. The Parish Hall also becomes an extension of our church, with worship space as beautiful and spiritual as our church.
We will not know the final cost until we go to contract, but we have estimates that the cost will be approximately $5 million. Several large donations have already been made including the full cost of a new nursery.
This project will allow us to enlarge the Parish Hall to accommodate 200+ people in this enlarged sacred space; build a new safer, attractive nursery for our young families; add meeting space; develop beautiful outdoor space in the waterfront area by the Parish Hall; renovate and relocate the kitchen, storage space, adult formation areas; and upgrade the restrooms, audio/visual equipment, and HVAC systems.
It has been over 15 years since the last major Capital Campaign. That campaign had established our master plan, which was updated in 2017. In 2012 we had a smaller campaign called Restoration 60, that made improvements primarily to the church.
The Endowment Fund is just under $4 million. The Enabling Resolution which established it reads, “It is the intent that the Endowment Fund shall be managed in perpetuity as a true endowment.” Part of it is restricted and so may only be used for the restricted purpose. A maximum of 5 percent of unrestricted funds can be withdrawn annually (based on a formula) to assist in the General Operating Budget. The principal could not be withdrawn to totally fund a Capital Campaign.
If the campaign is successful in 2019, building would commence after Easter, 2020.
Any pledge that is made to the Capital Campaign is meant to be above and beyond what a parishioner is already giving. Regular giving is what keeps a parish functioning on a day-to-day basis. A Capital Campaign is a separate initiative intended to make improvements beyond normal maintenance and repairs. In the short-term, regular stewardship giving is expected to remain at its current level.
You may donate to the Capital Campaign online by clicking here and navigating to the "Giving" section of your Realm account, or by picking up a pledge certificate from the church office.
We are committed to working with each parishioner so that all may participate. We anticipate that pledges will be made over 1-3 years with the first pledge payments being made in 2019.
We are eliminating 5-7 parking spots on the waterfront so that the area can be used as multi-purpose outdoor space for worship and fellowship. The east parking lot will be reconfigured and the area in front of the parish hall configured for grass parking. It is anticipated that we will add an additional 8-10 parking spots.
This answer will be different for each person and/or family. Reflect on Trinity-by-the-Cove’s role and importance in your life. Assess how you can help this vision become a reality. Pastoral guidance is always available over a cup of coffee with Fr. Edward or any of the clergy and vestry.