Task Force on 2200 Locust

1
Task Force on 2200 Locust

• Report to Presbytery of Philadelphia
• May 22, 2007

2
Directions to the Task Force

• In the fall of 2006 COMO directed the Task Force
  to study and make recommendations concerning the
  best location and type of facility for the
  presbytery office, including whether we should
  own or lease said facility.

3
History

• This is the fourth Task Force since the late
  1970s to study the use and future of the
  presbytery office.
• The recommendations of all three previous studies
  suggested that the presbytery office remain in
  its current location.

4
What are we looking for?

• A place that makes us visible and presents the
  face of the presbytery of Philadelphia in a
  vibrant and engaging way.
• A place to gather for study, worship, prayer and
  training.

5
What are we looking for?

• A place that features our resource center in a
  prominent way so that it can be better utilized
  by many more members.
• A place that supports our missional direction by
  offering functional and flexible space for
  meetings and training.
• A place that is flexible enough to accommodate
  evolving staff designs and directions for mission
  and is efficient.

6
What else do we need?

• Good access to public transportation
• Convenient public parking
• Space for our staff that fosters communication
  and interaction

7
Consider . . .

• Few presbytery committees use 2200 Locust Street
  for meetings.
• Staff members spend a significant amount of their
  time driving to and from meetings taking place
  across the presbytery.
• 2200 Locust Street seems underutilized.

8
Consider . . .

• We dont have to leave 2200 Locust but perhaps we
  should give it serious consideration, with input
  from across the presbytery.

9
So Why Should We Consider Another Location?

• In light of our decision to become a missional
  presbytery (approved by presbytery, July 2006),
  the Task Force felt it would be beneficial to
  ask Does our current location facilitate the
  vision of being a missional presbytery?

10
Review A Missional Plan

• As God the Father sent Jesus Christ, Christ has
  sent us and empowered us through the Holy Spirit,
  to be His ambassadors to the world to spread the
  gospel. The Presbytery of Philadelphia is called
  to equip and assist its congregations to be
  instruments and living witnesses of the gospel in
  its various contexts.

11
Review A Missional Plan

• It is a call to become missional. The term
  missional refers to the calling of Gods church
  to be an instrument for Gods mission in the
  world. In seeking to become missional, it calls
  for a radical design of the strategy, structure,
  and staff of the presbytery to serve its . . .
  congregations.
• From A Missional Plan for the Presbytery of
  Philadelphia, approved July 2006

12
Heres What We Know

• 2200 Locust appears to be unsuitable for current
  and anticipated ministry and is currently
  underutilized.
• The estimated value of the property is 2.4
  million and is deemed highly saleable.

13
Heres What We Dont Know

• Where we would go. No decisions have been made
  about a new location, including whether or not we
  would remain in the city.

14
Whats Next?

• Input from every session in the presbytery.
• A presbytery-wide discussion at our July meeting
  of presbytery (July 24, 1000 a.m. at Warminster
  Church).
• A first-reading for action at our September
  meeting.
• Vote at our November meeting

15
We Want to Hear from You

• We ask that every session review these notes and
  offer us feedback by July 16, 2007.
• Notes of this presentation have been included
  into todays mailing and also on posted on the
  website.

16
So Tell Us . . .

• How might our presbyterys new missional
  structure affect the need for and use of a
  presbytery office building?
• Should we consider a new location for the
  presbytery office?

17
Please Rank

• Rank the following criteria from 1 (low value) to
  8 (highest value) for use of our presbytery
  office and send us your responses
• Location visibility our building would present
  a vibrant face of the presbytery
• Access to public transportation

18
Please Rank

• 3. Convenient parking
• 4. Resource center usage
• 5. Meeting space for presbytery committee
  meetings
• 6. Staff needs for office work and meetings
• 7. Flexibility of use (a space that would be a
  gathering place for worship, prayer, and
  training)
• 8. A building that would support our missional
  direction.

19
Send us your responses

• To Stuart Spencer
• C/o Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church
• 1680 Aquetong Road
• New Hope, PA 18938
• Phone 215. 862 - 2440
• FAX [phone]
• Email sspencer_at_tmpc.org
• Respond by July 16, 2007