The following motions were presented and passed:
 
It is recommended to the Charge Conference by the Board of Trustees:
 
Motion A:   to purchase house #1 at 85 W. 10th at $75,000 and house #3 at 95 W. 10th St. for $112,000 and to authorize the Trustees and Finance Committees to negotiate the Finance Package.
 
Motion B:  to use up to $65,000 from the Parsonage Escrow Fund towards the purchase of the houses.
 
Motion C:  to pursue the purchase of house #2 at 91 W. 10th St. when it becomes available with a cap of $80,000.  This would require a financial appeal to the congregation to cover the mortgage payments beyond the total rental income of all three properties.
 
Copies of the Building and Land Use Committee survey results are available on the Sign-up table.

Note from Pastor Lynn:

 
I praise God for the step we took together with the positive vote at the Church Conference on April 24.  Two things helped us get to that place.
 
1. The Building and Land Use Committee shared the culmination of their work with a presentation of a proposed Master Plan.  That helped us look at the property purchase in the light of the big picture.  I am very thankful to the entire Building and Land Use Committee and especially to chairs, Kent & Mary Jagnow for their faithful work.
2. We engaged together both at the Church Conference and for months before the meeting in Holy Conferencing.  By that I mean that many people and groups: Trustees, Finance, and Endowment Committees, and Church Council plus discussions after church worked together to gather data, discussion, question, look at options, and pray.  The Church Conference was a culmination of a long respectful conversation about where God was leading and what was the best decision.  The process was an important as the outcome.
 

  It is a sign of the Spirit to be led where you did not intend to go.
 
Doors continue to open as we explore the purchase of property adjacent to our property on 10th St.  We now have firm figures for the purchase of two of the three houses.  Exploration continues on the house at 91 W. 10th St.  The Finance Committee and Property Purchase Task Force are working on financing for the purchase.
 
A Church Conference meeting to vote on the purchases and the financing will take place April 17 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.  As the date draws closer we will make specific information and numbers available to you.
 
Since we began exploring these properties it has come to our attention that they may be used in ministry.  Some churches provide housing for folks “getting back on their feet” in cooperation with Community Action House and Good Samaritan Ministries.  That is just one option for the immediate future using the properties as rentals.
 
I believe God is giving us an opportunity and placing a challenge before us.  To purchase these properties opens new doors to a long term future for this congregations’ ministry in this location. 
 
I invite you to pray about this, gather information, talk to the Trustees or other church leaders and then join us for holy conferencing on April 17.
 

  The Jim Smith family created the Andrew James Smith Memorial Scholarship following the tragic death of their son on July 10, 1988.  The $500 Scholarship, which is administrated by the First United Methodist Church, benefits senior students from West Ottawa, Holland High, and a senior from FUMC.