Special Edition E-vine: Sanctuary Seating

Last night, the Board of Directors met and decided to move forward with the purchase of flexible seating for the sanctuary.

Background

The issue of seating came to light as a result of the seismic upgrade.   When it became apparent that the floor needed to be replaced as the seismic work was being done, we were presented with an opportunity to evaluate our current seating and whether it would be the best choice to serve the mission moving forward.

To aid us in making the right decision, we solicited comments and feedback from many groups by conducting two open forums, surveying both the church and school community, meeting with key groups and engaging in many conversations. We also procured pricing for numerous options and had sample seating options delivered so we could experience them firsthand.

Criteria

Several factors went into the decision to choose flexible seating. Flexible seating offers the following advantages:

• Flexible use of the sanctuary space: Flexible seating enables us to make use of the Sanctuary to serve more people in more ways.  Our campus is very pressed for ministry space.  Flexible seating will enable the sanctuary to be set up in alternate configurations for meetings, classes, workshops and rehearsals, while still providing for configurations appropriate for worship.
• Enhanced worship experience: Flexible seating will enable us to make use of alternate configurations for worship which will enable us to capitalize on the positive aspects from our experience of worshiping in the Parish Hall.
• Ability to better serve those with disabilities: Flexible Seating will enable us to accommodate those in wheelchairs and other devices throughout the sanctuary, enhancing our ability to serve those with disabilities.
• Reduce maintenance costs: Flexible seating is also a matter of stewardship. Flexible seating does not require holes in the new floor, as would have been the case with fixed pews.  We will also be better able to effectively clean and maintain the new floor. Being able to move the seating will also better facilitate cleaning of the sanctuary and replacement of lights and light bulbs.

Concerns

There was a concern about maintaining an appropriate worship environment in the sanctuary. In response to that, we will be establishing guidelines for the use of the sanctuary.  The guidelines will outline what kind of activities can be scheduled for this space and the procedure for doing so.  It will also define the default configuration of the seating (Sunday Worship) in order to ensure that after each use of the sanctuary, the space will be returned to this default configuration.

The cost of the new seating was also raised as a concern. The board has decided to order flexible seating that not only meets our needs but is also very cost-effective as well. While a final quote is still being prepared, we anticipate the cost of the new seating not to exceed $21,000; the cost of the seating will be shared by church and school budget using our usual 30%/70% facility/maintenance allocation.  For the church’s portion of the cost, we will be seeking donations to cover the approximately $6000 additional needed for this purchase, in addition to the generous donations we have already received.

Summary

Thank you for your patience as we worked through this decision. Your input was invaluable to helping the board come to this decision. While we understand that for some, this may be a difficult change, we are confident that the benefits of flexible seating will serve the mission in a way that will bring the most glory to God.

If you have questions, please contact Pastor Mike or one of the members of the Board of Directors.

 

Anne Goodrich                                                Pastor Michael Schmid

Chair, Board of Directors                               Lead Pastor