Last year I shared the $130 million dollar modernization plans for First Baptist Church of Dallas, which at the time were believed to be the largest church building campaign ever undertaken. For that sum the church planned a total re-creation, rather than a renovation of the then existing campus including a sanctuary seating 3,000, a 4-story family center, a parking garage and sky bridge, and community space for use by the whole city.
Last month, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (Leawood, KS) announced an aggressive $90 million campaign to add on to and to renovate their massive campus. The largest expense included in this effort is the construction of a new $78 million sanctuary that will seat 35 percent less people than the current sanctuary, but will offer a better more intimate venue for worship with 90 percent of seats within 100 feet of the chancel.
So What?
Founded 24 years ago the church has always been led by Adam Hamilton, and is now America’s largest United Methodist congregation. The new campaign — 10,000 Reasons — is capturing a great deal of attention because it comes in at nearly $100 million dollars yet doesn’t even include all of the needs identified in planning and envisioned for the future (such as a 600 seat chapel).
- What is your initial response to the new campaign at Church of the Resurrection?
- Do you find plans such as those of First Baptist and Church of the Resurrection to be signs of hope for the future of American Protestantism, reasons for concern about the present, or something else entirely? Explain your perspective.