Meeting With Bishop Curry

Meeting with Bp. Curry and Canon Marge Roccoberton
And Executive Committee John Sutton, Senior Warden, Stilson Daniel, Treasurer, Barbara Bancroft, Clerk and Lois Keen, Priest in Charge

Demographics of Norwalk are changing
Norwalk becoming a place for single people
On the rail line
Less expensive than some places in Fairfield County
Strategy:
Be in conversation with the developers of West Norwalk
Be in conversation with residents
Be in conversation with businesses – primarily legal offices nearby

Our use of our buildings
$8,000 to $9,000 per month
underutilized
make our buildings pay for themselves
Strategies:
How can the diocese help?
Be aware of those uses that do not accord with our non profit status
Avoid paid activities that result in taxation
Make sure our uses are in alignment with diocesan goals
Align revenue use of space with the goals of our mission,
but primarily align revenue use of space with the values of the Gospel
Talk with agencies in West Norwalk about primary needs for use of our buildings
May be desirable to run suggested uses past the diocese

Past use that came from talking with community about need
Mustard Seed, which became Artworks – need for after school programming
Put together by rector and a small group of committed parishioners
Very few parishioners had involvement day to day
Transportation is a major problem for school age children in Norwalk
Program eventually moved to a school, which made sense.
Parish no longer identified with the program – no longer seen as “a Grace Church project
Parishioners stopped being involved – the program died
Strategy – increase congregation awareness that Grace ministry does not happen only on Grace property.
All activities of Grace parishioners are Grace activities/ministries

Stilson: Vision and goals to be Big Daring Risky Must be known Must succeed

Music program described – community wide use of building for music related uses
Recitals, concerts, lessons, chorus(es)
Strategy: Connect with the Cathedral in Hartford – ie their concert series
Test community need for same
Be aware of competition? Competition is good – keeps us sharp
There are financial implications in the development of mission
We will need to use savings
Jessie Ball DuPont Fund grants for targeted, sustainable uses

Diocesan assistance:
Networking resources
Others in the diocese may have a track record of success in areas we desire
Strong recommendation: Knock on the doors of the offices in the church’s neighborhood
Ask, “How can we be of service?”
Ask, “How might you want to make use of our building?”

Regarding the parking lot signs, which we are in the process of changing:
How about “This is a good place for turning around!” on one side,
And/or “Jesus thanks you for turning around!”
Theologically sound signage!

Regarding goals to be met before calling Lois Keen as Rector
Financial sustainability
Active in mission
Yes, if July 19, 2009 comes, the end of Lois’s contract, Grace can renew
provided there is financial support for same