Renovation Updates

Overview Questions

• How is the church’s leadership being included in the project design?

  Leaders from the Children’s Ministry, Early Learning Center, Adult Ministry, Worship & Arts, and Missions & Outreach have all been involved in the master planning and design process since the beginning and will continue to be consulted as plans progress. Our Building Team, led by church member Neal Hinson, is comprised of staff and laity providing a diverse demographic and ministry area representation.

• How will changes in the denomination affect our plan?

  We who call BUMC home have chosen to remain a spiritual family, working together for the mission of the church, and in Jesus’ name, to continually transcend divisive issues for the greater good of the Kingdom. In choosing compatibility in love, we accept we may not hold the same perspective on all matters. Yet, we faithfully continue to grow in our faith together, holding each other in mutual respect, and focusing on the ties that bind us together in love through the Holy Spirit rather than those that divide. While we have no way of guaranteeing future attendance, studies show that few people today choose a church out of loyalty to a particular denomination. The most common reasons someone chooses a new church home are because of friendships and the vibrancy of the local church community.

  BUMC is an excellent choice for someone looking for a vibrant new church home:

  • Since early 2022, we have seen a 50% increase in worship, children’s, and student ministry participation
  • Our giving remains strong
  • We welcomed 197 new members in 2022
  • We have welcomed 59 new members so far in 2023
  • Our preschools are at capacity
  • Our missional engagement is as impactful as ever

• What security measures are being included for the Children’s Ministry Area and other areas of the church?

  Security of our children is a top priority. The Children’s Ministry Area, which includes our nursery, Day School, and Early Learning Center, is secure with no public access during school hours, on Sunday mornings, or when large events are held on our campus. The children’s check-in area will be reconfigured during the upgrade to provide them with their own secure entrance.

  Others measures we have in place include:

  • Routine assessments of the safety and security of our campus
  • Upgrades for some of our door locks
  • Exploring the best treatment of glass in doors and windows
  • Improving our electronic surveillance with added cameras
  • Implementing an automated alert system

  We also have in place a thorough Safety & Security Plan for our campus, which includes procedures for emergency situations including medical, severe weather, fire, intruder or active shooter, missing child or adult, bomb threat, or a chemical or biological event. Additionally, our Children’s Ministry, Day School, and Early Learning Center all have specific plans for the children and have regular training and drills.

• How are we addressing accessibility and mobility concerns?

  All new construction and renovations will be done in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards and guidelines. We are including ramps for access to the chancel areas in both the Sanctuary and Chapel.

• What will be the impact on current ministries during construction?

  We will work closely with our project team at T.W. Frierson on the construction and renovation schedule to minimize the disruption to our ministry. We are confident in their ability to help us make the most of our usable space during that time. Even with the best planning, the construction will require creativity and patience from our leaders, members, and students.

  Specific disruptions may include:

  • Family Life Center Ministry events will be relocated or reimagined.
  • Children’s Ministry activities, Day School, and Early Learning Center will be relocated to other areas of the building as needed. Children’s safety is the highest priority. We will remain compliant with the state rules and regulations for early childhood education. The Day School and Early Learning Center will continue to operate at full capacity throughout construction.
  • A few adult classrooms may temporarily become shared space or moved off-site during construction.
  • During the Chapel renovation, worship services and other activities normally held in the Chapel will be conducted in the Sanctuary or other areas of the building.
  • During the Sanctuary renovations, worship services and other activities normally held in the Sanctuary will be conducted in the Chapel or off-campus. This will likely require the temporary addition of more weekend worship times. We anticipate being able to use the Sanctuary during Christmas 2023, Easter 2024, and Christmas 2024.

• With the repurposing of the Family Life Center, where will large group events be held?

  We can hold large events in Haney Hall, the Tabernacle, Sanctuary, Chapel, and the Gathering Space, depending on the type of event. As we evaluated the current facilities uses and the needs of our ministries, a priority for Children’s Ministry began to emerge. 

  In our assessment, we identified the following events that are regularly held in the Family Life Center:

  • Room In The Inn, usually once a week, November through March
  • Fundraising events for Harvest Hands, Healing Housing, and the Boy Scout Spaghetti Dinner
  • KidSale, a semi-annual consignment sale for children’s items

  We remain committed to these ministries and will work with the ministry leaders of these to explore ways to creatively accommodate these events in other spaces in the church.