Report of the Interim Executive Director, December 4, 2008
United Methodist Union of Greater Detroit Report of the Interim Executive Director to the Executive Committee
December 4, 2008
Introduction
Thank you for the honor you have paid me by inviting me to be your Interim Executive Director. My relationship with the United Methodist Union goes back to 1965. All of which means that I am now in my 43rd year of this prized “connection.” My lament, of course, involves the necessity of taking the reins following Ken Christler’s tragic death. I affirmed him as your Executive Director. I will miss him as my friend. I will attempt to carry out his vision while holding the fort as regards daily activities. I have already come to value the skills and experience of Connie Perrine, Carolyn Nichols, and members of Phares Noel’s leadership team. I would be with you in person, had I not had surgery on Tuesday afternoon. Even as I write, I am recovering nicely from a repaired hernia.
Since taking on this responsibility, I have had meetings with members of the staff, both district superintendents, a realtor consultant, Bill Skubik, our maintenance consultant, Scott McCarrick, in addition to phone conversations with several pastors of our United Methodist Churches. Kindly allow me to comment on a number of items presently before us. As to whether action needs to be taken immediately or can be comfortably delayed, I leave to your discretion.
2009 pastoral salary support from the United Methodist Union budget – This line item contains $60,000.00 for the coming year. I had a preliminary meeting with both Rev. Duane Miller and Rev. John Lee relative to the distribution of dollars. We agreed to a follow-up meeting next week for detailed allocation. Given the stressful economic climate in our area, I expect that the need will exceed the dollars available. Hard decisions will be required.
Toilet winterization of the former Exousia United Methodist Church building on 7 Mile Road- Talking with Scott McCarrick, I learned that several of the toilets in this now-closed facility have been used and hand flushed with buckets of water. In order to avoid the complications of frozen plumbing, Scott suggested that these toilets be winterized immediately. As one who has intimate knowledge of this building, I took him at his word. We agreed on the amount of $150.00 to complete this work. I told him to go ahead and submit an invoice. As to whether I have the authority to allocate resources at this relatively low level, I am not certain. But I went ahead and authorized the work. To my knowledge, this has been completed.
Rental of the former Exousia United Methodist Church building- This item is considerably more complex. This building has been vacant since July of 2007. Scott McCarrick has consistently maintained it for us. Bill Skubik has attempted to sell it. There have been no buyers in the amount of $375,000.00. We have suffered some vandalism and theft with the appropriate repairs having been made. The Exousia congregation now meets in the building occupied by Oak Park: Faith United Methodist Church. The two congregations share the facility but hold separate worship services.
The East Seven Mile Road location (a series of re-fitted storefronts) has had not tenants since Exousia moved to Oak Park. The building has 8,000 square feet of serviceable space but will, as some point, need a new roof. Our listing agent does not believe a sale is either imminent or likely. A potential renter has emerged in the person of Anthony Dowdell who pastors a relatively new congregation know as Glorious Grace Covenant Ministries. I have a full listing of the persons involved. They number 103 including both adults and children. Given the newness of the congregation (a break-away group from a former church on the east side), we only have financial data for October and November of this year. To the degree that the data is accurate, $1,000.00 per month would appear to be a realistic expense. Any agreement reached with this congregation would require a $2,000.00 security deposit and a $1,000.00 payment of the first month’s rent. In other words, $3,000.00 would be required to sign a six month lease. To occupy the building, however, they would be required to prove that all utilities had been transferred into their name.
While this is far from a perfect deal, it would get a tenant into the building, thus improving building security. It would also eliminate the budgetary drain of utilities and maintenance. Bill Skubik believes this is the best deal we are likely to get anytime soon. The congregation is obviously interested in moving in as soon as possible. This matter could come before the Full Board on December 13, 2008 but I thought you would want to look at it first.
The roof at Henderson Memorial United Methodist Church- Last Sunday morning, I worshiped with 23 other congregants at Henderson Memorial UMC. I accepted an offer to speak to the congregation, thanking them for their prayers and concerns for Ken Christler and his family. I then toured the building, including the interior second floor hallway where Ken fell from a ladder. I saw the results of water damage from roof repair very much in need of completion. Later conversation with Scott McCarrick fleshed our our options. The best one seems to be a minimal repair in the amount of $2,845.00. This would secure the flat roof portion of the building in the area where repairs are most needed. His proposal includes three squares of torch-down, two squares of shingle repair on the sanctuary roof, repair to flashing around the chimney and vents, seam repair on the flat roof along with repaired vent covers. Scott would also remove standing water from the roof and guarantees that even should water recollect, the roof will not leak. To do more complete job would involve re-pitching the flat roof and cost in the neighborhood of $20,000.00.
I have mixed feelings about this. On one had, this congregation does not appear to have much of a future. I saw no evidence of a Sunday school, children’s programming or other weekday activities. Except for the sanctuary, the building is very much in need of refurbishing and cleaning. Seldom if ever are there more than 40 people in worship, with the mid-20s the customary norm. In addition, we have spent nearly $200,000.00 at Henderson over the last 17 years.
On the other hand, serious damage will result if this leak is not repaired. Any chance that the Head Start program will take possession of the second floor will completely disappear. What’s more, the congregation spent $50,000.00 of its small endowment on the last major roof repair, using a contractor strongly urged by the United Methodist Union. This contractor did a poor job, as was the case in several other churches. They somehow feel that the present problem is, in part, “our fault.” To my way of thinking, the most important reason to complete this repair is the fact that it is associated with the death of Ken Christler. Do any of us want it said that Ken died inspecting a project we subsequently failed to address?
Vandalism repairs at River Rouge: John Wesley United Methodist Church- I have had a pair of conversations with our pastor at John Wesley UMC, Rev. Rahim Shabazz. Recent vandalism has led to a pair of broken windows and the need to address lighting issues around the exterior of the building. Scott McCarrick has visited the site and says that the lighting issues can be corrected for $540.00. He also added an amount of $200.00 for window repair. Between the time of Scott’s visit and my phone call, the congregation took care of the windows on their own.
Down the road they are also interested in adding a wrought iron fence that will secure a vulnerable portion of their property. No dollar amount is requested at this time. The congregation has a loan with us of $25,743.00. They are making fairly regular payments and they’re willing to have the $540.00 of lighting costs attached to their loan. I place the matter before you for discussion.
An idea that may not be as crazy as it sounds- I would have you consider reducing the 2009 apportionments to our 96 churches by 20 percent. Obviously, this would take a fair amount of discussion. But were it to be enacted, it should be considered quickly. Were I to make a presentation to you, I would include the following “talking points.”
- The value of institutional empathy
- The “rainy day” has become a “rainy season”
- The ability to pay has been severely compromised
- The motivational effect of shared sacrifice
- The budget can absorb such a reduction with no pain
- The public relations value of a timely response
The fact that I will not be doing my Mentor in Residence program during the coming year will save $33,000.00. Additional funds not expended on a full-time Executive Director (for at least part of the year) will generate additional savings. To date, there has been absolutely no denominational response to severely stressed local churches. We have the opportunity to do something totally unprecedented. This could also be coupled with a seminar in January or February addressing the economic crisis in our congregations. I propose it for discussion rather than action.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Dr. William A. Ritter, Interim Executive Director