When I think of Sewickley United Methodist Church, I think about our people — the pastor and ministry leaders, the kids and funny things they say and do, the fellowship and laughter in the Simpson room, the prayers we share, and the community we are. But we couldn’t be who we are or conduct our ministries without our church building.
The physical structure where we gather is so much more than bricks, mortar, and systems. It is a vital tool for our mission and a silent witness to our faith. Our church building is often the first "sermon" our neighbors and visitors hear. Keeping the exterior well-maintained and the interior clean, safe, and up-to-date shows that we care about our church, and care about you and those we invite in. It reflects our respect for the gift God has given us and our commitment to being a stable, welcoming presence in the Village.
The importance of our building and ability to improve it is why the Leadership Board spent the entirety of our meeting, Wednesday, April 8th, addressing stewardship of the church. SUMC’s 2026 Capital Plan was the main topic, so we kicked off our meeting by confirming the list of projects on that Plan.
parsonage windows replacement and ongoing maintenance of the parsonage
church roof replacement
HVAC system
sound system
organ restoration
door refurbishments
clock tower maintenance
concrete work around the church
basement upgrades
accessibility, specifically linking the main floor to the basement.
Given any unforeseen additional issues, the Capital Plan consists of ten types of projects.
A few of those projects have been completed or are underway. Pastor Hannah confirmed that all the windows in the parsonage were replaced, and she already notices the difference. Jenine Furry reported that recent patches to the roof buy us time to undertake full roof replacement next spring. Door 1 refurbishment is underway, and the next door slated for restoration, number 6, also gives us an opportunity to improve external accessibility at that entrance if we can multiply our money by obtaining a grant. Relative to overcoming our church’s internal accessibility deficiencies, Pastor Hannah talked to AME Zion Church about a similar project they completed last year. AME Zion installed a lift to connect the floors of their church, a project that cost $150,000. With the information AME Zion shared, we are going to contact the company they used to obtain an assessment of our internal accessibility and a cost estimate for a solution.
Hurst Bartley reminded the Board that SUMC previously completed a complex capital project that we can use as a blueprint for the 2026 Capital Plan. About ten years ago, SUMC undertook an overhaul of the sanctuary, a project that was debated and difficult. Hurst walked us through elements of that experience and identified sound practices to guide our approach on this campaign. Things like coordinating project timelines, budgeting, scheduling LOC (line of credit) draws, fundraising to offset financial gaps, and keeping the congregation informed. This discussion gave the Board an opportunity to reflect on the efforts of those who went before us, and honor them by approaching the 2026 Capital Plan with respect for their work and confidence to accomplish our Plan for future generations.
As with all capital plans, completion is contingent on money – how to raise it and how to use it. The Board created two subcommittees to work specifically on those two details: a fundraising subcommittee and a project management (PM) subcommittee. The fundraising team is tasked with explaining the 2026 Capital Plan and identifying fundraising opportunities like themed special events, donations, matching funds, and grants. The PM team is responsible for prioritizing projects, obtaining cost estimates, hiring contractors, and ensuring projects are completed according to budget and schedule.
The 2026 Capital Plan is officially underway! Approved by the credit union in April, the LOC is now available to program and draw upon its funds. But first, we are using money that was earmarked in this year’s budget to tackle the less expensive projects. Pastor Hannah and Board members plan to report progress regularly to you as we work through the Capital Plan schedule and budget. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask one of us or attend one of our Leadership Board meetings. We are custodians eager to advance this mission with you as we build God’s kingdom together.
The next Leadership Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 pm in The Patton Library. You are always welcome to attend!
Lynn Colosi
SUMC Board Member