At the Ardmore Presbyterian Church, fall is typically the time that we think about stewardship. As we further our ministry into our neighborhood and the world, we should care for the gifts God has given us. That includes our buildings and facilities.
Most of you may be familiar with the Parish House. Built in 1909, the home is registered with the Lower Merion Township Historical Society, and has long belonged to APC. Over the years, it has housed ministers, staff, and individual ministries. Today, we rent the top two floors to generate income for the church, and the rest is used for church, primarily our Youth Fellowship.
The building is in need of some serious and expensive repairs, and the session must make some important decisions about the future of the Parish House. Our desire is that it should enhance our ministry. We do not want it to detract from our efforts to serve God. As a result, the session has named a task force to address these concerns.
The task force will not make ultimate decisions relating to the Parish House. That is the job of the session. Instead their work relates to all the legal and financial constraints on the property. They are also looking at specific ways the property can further God’s vision for this church. Moreover, we desire to make this process fair and transparent for everyone.
Over the next few months, the Parish House Task Force will be asking for your input. We all recognize that this matter will generate strong feelings. As a result, please share your thoughts. Don’t let the opportunity to shape the future of our congregation slip away.
The moderator of the Parish House Task Force is Laura Goetsch. The other members of the task force are Dick Corl, Harry Hannigan, and Tim Patterson.
Peace & Grace,
James Hodsden
