Phase 1 faqs
What does “BHAG” stand for?
A BHAG is an acronym for Big Hairy Audacious Goal, an idea conceptualized in the book, “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” by James Collins and Jerry Porras.
What is JUC’s BHAG?
By May 1, 2018, we will have a viable plan to free JUC from the limits of our campus in order to live more fully into our mission.
Has it already been decided that JUC will move?
No. The decision to move rests entirely with the Congregation. More specifically, the Board of Trustees only has the power to purchase, assign, sell, transfer, convey, lease, or mortgage real property when authorized by a 2/3rds vote of a meeting of the congregation.
I thought there was talk about moving because of the parking issues.
1) Aren’t there ways to deal with parking that would be easier and cheaper?
2) Won’t streaming of the Sunday services remedy the parking crunch overtime?
1) Aren’t there ways to deal with parking that would be easier and cheaper?
2) Won’t streaming of the Sunday services remedy the parking crunch overtime?
1) Parking is really just one of a number of pressing issues that are preventing us from truly living into our mission.
2) Streaming of Sunday services was launched for a number of reasons but not to alleviate parking. Streaming services enables us to
2) Streaming of Sunday services was launched for a number of reasons but not to alleviate parking. Streaming services enables us to
- to reach Congregants that are unable to attend Sunday services in person for a variety of reasons including travel or limited mobility
- as a mechanism to connect with UU's that live outside the Denver metro area and don't have access to a UU church or Fellowship in their area and
- live into our mission of growing Unitarian Universalism "outside our walls" and reach a growing segment of our population that are outside of the Denver metro area and are seeking to connect with our progressive faith movement
If space and/or parking are issues, can’t we add onto the building and come up with more creative parking strategies?
Unfortunately we do not have any options for adding on to our existing building. There are several constraints the most critical of which is that we must maintain a certain ratio of parking spaces to the seating capacity of the sanctuary. Moreover, the landowner to the east of JUC has not been open to a possible purchase of his property in the past but we are in the process of contacting him again to gauge his interest. The land across the street including the golf course was recently purchased for 13.5 million dollars by the Prospect Recreation and Park District to be preserved as open space.
Creative parking strategies could perhaps be employed but really do not address the core issues that are impacting our ability to live fully into our mission.
Creative parking strategies could perhaps be employed but really do not address the core issues that are impacting our ability to live fully into our mission.
The goal indicates that one of the reasons JUC needs to move is to “better serve our mission.”
1) What ARE the elements of “our” mission?
2) What exactly do the elements of our mission mean?
3) What are we not doing already?
4) What would we be doing better or differently in a different facility and location?
1) What ARE the elements of “our” mission?
2) What exactly do the elements of our mission mean?
3) What are we not doing already?
4) What would we be doing better or differently in a different facility and location?
The JUC mission is: To nurture our spiritual community, grow Unitarian Universalism and transform the world outside our walls. Over the years we have had several forums including the “Gathered Here” initiative in 2012, a leadership forum in 2013 and over 100 one-on-one conversations with members to add clarity and substance to the elements of the mission. These are represented in the aspirations in the overarching explanation for why we feel the need to seek a large facility.
Is this initiative tied to:
Becoming a more diverse church community?
Serving a more diverse population.
If yes, what are the elements in consideration for a “move-to location” that play into decision-making?
If no, why not?
Becoming a more diverse church community?
Serving a more diverse population.
If yes, what are the elements in consideration for a “move-to location” that play into decision-making?
If no, why not?
Becoming more diverse in many different aspects has been a longstanding goal at JUC. Members of JUC are aware of and appreciate the many aspects of diversity and embrace it. Our worship, education and other programs affirm the diverse identities of all our members and our awareness of the diversity present in Jefferson County and the Denver metro area. In other words, work to ensure that we each connect authentically with others.
However, we are far from areas of the county with greater levels of racial, ethnic, class and other forms of diversity. It’s unlikely that in our current location we can effectively “get proximate” a la Bryan Stevenson (Author “Just Mercy” & 2017 Ware Lecture) to neighbors that will help us grow spiritually as people. Getting "proximal" is just one of many factors that will go into consideration of a future site.
However, we are far from areas of the county with greater levels of racial, ethnic, class and other forms of diversity. It’s unlikely that in our current location we can effectively “get proximate” a la Bryan Stevenson (Author “Just Mercy” & 2017 Ware Lecture) to neighbors that will help us grow spiritually as people. Getting "proximal" is just one of many factors that will go into consideration of a future site.
What is the process for making a decision?
- A real estate agent has been retained to help us evaluate potential properties/facilities that could meet our needs.
- A congregational fundraising consultant, has been hired to help us assess our potential for raising funds. This is NOT a formal capital campaign but rather an assessment done before a decision to initiate a capital campaign is made.
- The Shared Mission Team (SMT) formerly the Committee on Ministry (COM) is taking the lead, in partnership with the Board and JUC staff, in holding a series of different forums and events to stay in dialog with the Congregation during this process
- A plan for moving forward will be presented to the Congregation at the April 15 meeting.
Who will ultimately make the decision on this?
The Congregation
If we do decide to move, will we move near our current location?
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<div class="accordion-body">The parameters for the property search have been set at Hwy 93 to the West, Jewell Ave to the South, Sheridan Ave to the East, and approximately 88th Ave to the North.
If we do decide to move, will we move near our current location?
</strong><span class="accordion-heading-btn">▲</span></label>
<div class="accordion-body">The parameters for the property search have been set at Hwy 93 to the West, Jewell Ave to the South, Sheridan Ave to the East, and approximately 88th Ave to the North.
If we do decide to move, will we move near our current location?
The parameters for the property search have been set at Hwy 93 to the West, Jewell Ave to the South, Sheridan Ave to the East, and approximately 88th Ave to the North.
What are the options we’re looking at, e.g:
Buy another, larger church?
Buy and remodel something such as an empty commercial building and remodel?
Buy land and build?
Buy another, larger church?
Buy and remodel something such as an empty commercial building and remodel?
Buy land and build?
We are looking at all available options.
Didn't JUC go through this same exercise several years ago? What did we learn from that?
UC evaluated possible options for growing at several points in the past. An assessment was done in the mid 90's which compared the options for moving against staying in our current location and expanding the building. Ultimately, the latter option was chosen with construction of the new Chapel, RE wing and renovation of the Mills Building completed in 2005. JUC also considered a number of options for growth again in 2011 and the Congregation approved creation of a second campus in Evergreen in the fall of 2011. The campus model was tested for five years before deciding in 2017 that it was it was not the most effective way of leveraging the resources of the church.
If the decision is made to move, what will the cost be?
How will that be paid for?
What will be expected of JUC member in paying for this?
What will happen to our current building and property?
How will that be paid for?
What will be expected of JUC member in paying for this?
What will happen to our current building and property?
It is too early in the process to reflect on the potential cost of a new facility as the options are still varied at this time. However, it is likely that a capital campaign will be needed at some point.
If we move, there are many milestones, memories, and mementos tied to our current location, what will be done to honor and relocate what we can?
A plan is still being formulated with regard to this question – we’d love to have your input!
Is this goal related to the recent changes in leadership at UUA nationally?
It is true that attendance in mainline churches is declining albeit our association saw only a very slight decline nationally. However, the Denver/Boulder region is expected to add 1.39 million people in the coming decades and Jeffco alone has grown by 37,000 people just since the last official census in 2010. Attendance at JUC and the number of members has grown steadily the past 10 years. If we don't add space we're essentially saying "in a growing county, we choose to stay the same." The people who are coming to this place, or growing up in it, and find themselves looking for a spiritual home, will not have a UU congregation to attend, especially if they live in the Arvada/Lakewood/Golden triangle.
Information and Input:
How will we be kept informed:
How will we be kept informed:
- of opportunities for input?
- of progress
- of decisions
Look to the JUC newsletter for updates and the makingroom.jeffersonunitarian.org website.
Whom may I contact if:
- I have questions or concerns
- I want to be part of this project
There are a number of ways for you to address questions, concerns or indicating your interest in helping with a number of groups working to support this initiative:
- Attend a Forum or Dreaming Session
- Leave a Question or Comment Above
- Talk to any of our Ministers or Staff
- Contact a member of the Board of Trustees
- Reach out to a member of the SMT (COM)
Have we considered starting a satellite or second campus elsewhere as an alternative to moving to a single, larger campus altogether?
Yes, this possibility has been considered, but there are multiple reasons we are not pursuing it as a way to address the space challenges we face at JUC's current campus.
- We'd need to commit at least another 1/3 of our annual budget to hire more staff. This financial burden would be ongoing, not just a one-time capital campaign.
- We'd need 100-200 members of JUC to fully commit to not attending the JUC main campus, but rather attend the 2nd campus for a period of 3 years. This includes all non-worship activities, as well, such as choir, RE, small groups, etc. Interest in this kind of true seeding of another church site was not evidenced in even small numbers with the Evergreen campus.
- There are no successful examples of second campuses working well anywhere throughout our UU denomination. There are some very specific regional efforts that involve sites additional to a main church congregation (i.e., true satellite rebroadcasts or live streams of services in NM), but these are quite different than successfully starting or seeding a new church.
- If we want to have a large, powerful voice as a convener of social justice in Jefferson County, we do that through maximizing and concentrating our voice, not dissipating and dividing it.
I've heard reference to a 2-vote process - what does this mean?
The Making Room initiative is a 2-vote process. The vote on Sunday, April 15 at the Special Congregational Meeting is the FIRST VOTE to ensure there is direct congregational authorization to actively pursue a larger campus for JUC within the Jeffco search area. This, however, is not a blank check.
IF there's a yes vote on April 15th, several things will happen:
IF there's a yes vote on April 15th, several things will happen:
- We'll undertake a Financial Feasibility Study to get a more accurate view of the capacity we're likely to have for any future capital campaign. This'll happen this spring.
- The Property Evaluation Task Force, which has been convening appropriately at the Board's direction to analyze potential properties since late last year, will continue their work seeking options for consideration.
- IF a specific property emerges that could be a good fit for us (financially, space-wise, location, etc), then the Task Force will recommend it to the Board.
- IF the Board thinks its a worthwhile possibility, they'll recommend it to us, the congregation.
- We are UUs and will thoroughly review, vet, consider, debate, and probe the potential property and all finances related to it.
- We'll call a SECOND VOTE to specifically consider authorizing the Board to purchase the specific property after we've reviewed it. This is required by our bylaws - a 2/3 majority of quorum must be achieved at this 2nd vote in order for the Board to purchase any property.