Capital Campaign Update

On Sunday, November 16, we launched “Rooted in Faith, Growing to Serve,” our capital campaign. During the Adult Forum that morning, members of the campaign committee described the focus of this effort and invited the parish to sign up for small-group gatherings in parishioners’ homes. Over the last three months, we have held eleven such gatherings, and we are grateful to everyone who has attended ones.

I have had the privilege of joining in most of those gatherings, and each time I have come away with a renewed sense of wonder at the depth of faith and commitment to God’s work at St. Paul’s that is shared by the whole parish. For me, each gathering has been like a pep rally—an opportunity to celebrate the things we love about St. Paul’s and build momentum for what the future holds.

I have also been impressed by the thoughtful questions raised at each gathering. People want to know more about our plans, about why we have decided to focus on these particular priorities, about how we intend to time-phase the work, and about when this effort will be complete. Instead of getting lost in the details, individuals have raised nuanced points about the financial, logistical, and strategic aspects of this campaign.

Now that the small-group gatherings have finished, the capital campaign has reached a new stage. In the next month, we will hold three meetings at St. Paul’s, specifically designed for those who were unable to attend a small-group gathering in a parishioner’s home. If you have not had the chance to hear in depth about our plans and ask your questions, these meetings are for you! And, if you already attended a gathering but want to hear it again or ask lingering questions, please join us.

The three capital campaign meetings at St. Paul’s will be held on

·      Sunday, February 22, at 12:30pm (after the 11:00am service)

·      Sunday, March 1, at 10:00am (during the formation hour)

·      Wednesday, March 5, at 6:30pm (after the 6:00pm service)

At these meetings, you will hear from members of the committee about our three areas of focus for this campaign: eliminating debt to enable new ministry, attending to deferred maintenance issues, and making our church accessible to all. You will also hear from parishioners who will share why they are excited about this effort. And you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the campaign. You do not need to sign up for any of these meetings. Just show up!

After these three meetings, we plan to announce to the parish our progress in raising funds and begin encouraging everyone at St. Paul’s to make a commitment to the campaign. Our goal is not only financial but participatory. The Capital Campaign Committee and the Vestry both believe that this campaign is vital for our church’s future, and we want everyone to be a part of it. Our true success, therefore, cannot only be measured in dollars raised. We must also emphasize households that participate.

If you have not yet been to a small-group gathering, I hope you will make plans to join us for one of the three meetings to be held at St. Paul’s. If you have already attended and are ready to make your commitment, please go ahead and turn in your pledge card. You may bring or mail it to the church, place it in the offering plate, or fill it out electronically. And, if you want to hear more about the campaign, join us for one of the meetings.

People think I am joking when I tell them that launching a capital campaign usually has a positive effect both on church attendance and annual giving. We have seen that at St. Paul’s. Why? I think it is because people want to be a part of something important—a church that is making a difference in their lives and in the lives of the wider community. This campaign is about making sure that St. Paul’s continues to be the vital, vibrant, faithful, and compassionate church we have been for generations, and I am excited to see how this effort will lead to more growth in the years ahead.

Yours faithfully,

Evan D. Garner