TOWN HALL UPDATE

District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Robert Ortiz presided over a special called session of the Charge Coference on September 8, 2024. The purpose of the special called session was to allow Trustees Chair Steve Waters to make a presentation to the Board of Stewards toward pursuing the sale of the northeast parking lot. The Board of Stewards unanimously approved. Read the complete minutes below.

Senior Pastor Jason Adams and Trustees Chair Steve Waters offered an update and answered questions regarding the Northeast Corner project at the March 6, 2024 Town Hall gathering.

View the Town Hall and toggle through the presentation slides below.

At the request of the Finance Committee, and with Board of Stewards' support and approval, the Board of Trustees established a subcommittee/working group in 2022 to explore ways to generate additional income for the church. A few ideas were raised and the possibility of a ground lease covering the unimproved land at the northeast corner of our property ultimately became top priority.

Over an 18 month period, the working group did the following:

• Researched the market, The Book of Discipline, and church bylaws
• Received counsel from both local attorneys and Rio Texas Conference officials
• Received approval from the Rio Texas Conference District Strategy Team to engage with a broker
• Researched and received professional input from internal tax auditors regarding tax requirements
• Interviewed and engaged with a local commercial broker
• Listed 1.9+/- acres at the northeast corner of the property (intersection of Nottingham & Peter Baque)
• Received and reviewed offers
• Deliberated with potential lessees on offers and made counter offers

In the Fall of 2023, the remaining interested party made a proposal that significantly decreased the value of the deal, which was not acceptable to the working group’s standards. The working group deemed market dynamics for a ground lease to be unfavorable and advised the Trustees to explore other options.

Following a Town Hall to update the congregation on the status of the northeast corner project, the working group would be required to submit a formal proposal to the District Strategy Team before taking any future steps. The necessary committees and boards will be included throughout these steps, and the congregation will be included on any major updates.

Ground lease subcommittee members:

Steve Waters, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Scott Boynton, Former Trustee

Kacey Brewer, Director of Facilities

Valerie Slade, Executive Director