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Terry Eason, Junior Warden

In the last two to three years, there has been a considerable increase in the demand for space in our church: requests from parish groups for evening space for programs or meetings cannot always be met; many of our Christian education classes are overflowing; the campus ministry is completely limited by space in accommodating the current student participation levels; parish dinners very frequently exceed the available dining space; parish and funeral receptions experience major 'traffic flow' problems; a parish our size cannot offer all the adult education offerings that would be desirable; and an increased staff size with more full-time positions are spread in inefficient ways throughout the building. The number of baptisms is up. Numerically, we are growing in every way, and if we were not growing along with our fast-growing community, we would not be doing our part in our corner of Christ's kingdom.

In the last two years, three pivotal things happened: a dining room parlor study committee reported back to the vestry that the dining room needs went well beyond a simple paint job and new carpet; several pieces of property within a block of the church have come on the market and there have been widely divergent opinions as to whether they would be useful to our parish or not; and the efforts to start a new mission have moved ahead with the increasing knowledge that a new parish takes years and years to develop, buy land, and take hold in the community.

With all of these factors in mind, the vestry at its August meeting established a space use study committee charged to look at the following tasks:

1. Working within the present committee and staff structure, the committee will study the recent, current, and projected needs for program, administrative, and support spaces for our parish. This would include all areas of the present facilities.

2. The issue of expanded space on our present site (including the idea of a third floor on the Yates Wing) will be balanced against the limitations of parking and the historic character of the present buildings and site, including what will be the reasonable maximum 'build out' of the present property. The merits of possible nearby property will also be considered.

3. Working within the present committee and staff structure, the committee will be open to the possibility of expanded programs and new ministries that may likely occur over the next 10 to 20 years.

4. The committee would take into account the likely issues and limitations that could arise from working with the town of Chapel Hill including the historic district commission as well as adjacency concerns of the University and arboretum.

Members appointed to the committee are: Carolyn Goldfinch, Chair; Betsy Pringle, Rob Sullivan, Ramsey Terhune, Kevin Trapani, Ann Wilson; vestry members Terry Eason and Bert Liverance; and staff members the Rev. Tammy Lee and Barbara Hastings, Parish Administrator.

The space use study committee is planning to make an interim report back to the vestry by the February meeting, but it is certain that the work of this committee will take much of the spring to pull together recommendations.

Members of the congregation are invited to share all thoughts, ideas, hopes, and aspirations about the use, limitations, potential of our church buildings to any of the members of this committee at any time.

© 2001: Chapel of the Cross