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Sesquicentennial
Campaign

What Your Pledge is Accomplishing

We achieved our $8 million Sesquicentennial Campaign goal by the end of our sesquicentennial year, 2007!

BUILDING

The most visible impact of the Sesquicentennial Campaign is construction of the new Education Wing and remodeling of the 1968 building. The new facility provides dedicated classrooms for our Religious Education (RE) programs, new meeting rooms and increased office space.

In the previous arrangement, classrooms were spread all over the existing building, including One Groveland, the Baltins Room, Jackman Hall, the old education area above the Parlor and in the 1968 building. Parents had a challenge to even find the classrooms. All of the classrooms were needed for multiple uses during the week, and even on Sunday morning, so the rooms did not have any sense of “belonging” to our children. It's a wonderful thing that Plymouth is so busy that the church is bulging at the seams – but we wanted our children, youth and RE staff to have a fun and enjoyable learning experience.

Construction is complete and we have 12 new classrooms for our children that are used exclusively by the Church RE program on Sunday mornings. There's a large gathering space with many windows, wood paneling and a fireplace in the new addition to allow the families of the RE programs to meet their kids and one another following worship.

A very noticeable change to Jones Commons is leveling of the floors – the ramps have been removed to improve access to the new addition (a new elevator is provided). This allows Jones Commons to be used as an informal gathering space. There's a large conference/meeting room and new bathrooms on each level, too.

Architectural Alliance designed the new addition and remodel. Their floor plan met our program requirements and improves circulation through the building. Tying the design of the new addition into the existing campus was a significant challenge. The design incorporates the same granite as the original building with more contemporary lines and materials. A section along Nicollet Avenue features a sloped slate roof, matching the construction of the original building.

The construction work was under the direction of M.A. Mortenson Construction. They were brought in early to provide pre-construction services – including precise cost and schedule information. They were under a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract to complete the work for a set price. Following the groundbreaking ceremony in June 2006, construction took 11 months and was substantially complete by May of 2007.

Also as a part of the Campaign, we'll be creating space for the Plymouth Center in Room 214 of the existing building, near the old Junior High room. This will provide a permanent home for the Center, with office and library space and adjoining rooms for programs. The Groveland Emergency Food Shelf is being improved to better serve their clients.

–Paul Hanson, Chair,
Trustees Building Committee

ENDOWMENT

Another goal of our Sesquicentennial Campaign was to increase the size of Plymouth’s endowment. Our goal was to secure sufficient capital to provide annual support for operating and maintenance needs of the new Education Wing.

Our endowment was $3.9 million – smaller than many churches our size. Plymouth members created this endowment many years ago to serve as a financial cushion for the occasional repairs and improvements our church building requires, both the predictable and the unpredictable.

We estimate it will cost an additional $50,000 per year to operate and maintain our new education wing. A successful Campaign provides sufficient endowment resources to generate these additional funds, without affecting current program and personnel expenses.

Consistent with the Campaign’s goal of being good stewards of Plymouth’s resources, we hope to ensure that future generations at Plymouth will be able to manage the challenges of operating and maintaining our beautiful church building.

–Brad Stone, Chair, Board of Trustees

PLYMOUTH CENTER

"The mission of the Plymouth Center is to articulate, share and act upon the foundational and emerging values of progressive Christian Faith that respect and care for all people and the Earth."

It's been a busy year for the Plymouth Center. We’ve hired a talented Administrative Director, Kendra Brodin, developed a new mission statement, launched our web site and organized the Plymouth Center under a completely new governance structure. We’ve identified four core competencies of the Plymouth Center: scholarship, compassionate communication, networking and outreach to youth.

We’ve doubled the number of volunteers involved with the Plymouth Center by forming the Program, Outreach, Professional Content and Administration Committees. We have formed an Advisory Board of theologians and other professionals to help us envision the future of the Plymouth Center.

Last year we brought several important programs to our community, including Living the Questions (video with guided discussions), presentations by noted theologian Marjorie Suhocki and a weekend program by Professor Gary Dorrien. This year included:
1) training in and a public presentation on Non-Violent Communication;
2) presentations by Jack Nelson-Palmeyer of the St. Thomas Peace Studies Program;
3) the Jesus Seminar On The Road, focused on “Jesus, Teller of Parables”;
4) Living the Questions, Part 2; and
5) a Conference of Emerging Progressive Christian Leaders.

As the organization of the Plymouth Center has matured, we find ourselves energized by the work we're called to do. The message of Progressive Christianity, with its emphasis on the engagement of both our intellectual and emotional power in the service of God, has never been more relevant or compelling. We look toward a bright future.

–Bill Davini, Chair, Plymouth Center

OUTREACH PROGRAM (selected)

Outreach Volunteer Coordinator – Plymouth’s neighborhood and community outreach is currently led and facilitated by an Outreach Volunteer Coordinator, to be funded in part by the Sesquicentennial Campaign. With the help of our Volunteer Coordinator, Connie Marty, Outreach has expanded to 15 Working Groups this past year, linking Plymouth volunteers to a wide variety of community organizations and other nonprofits.

Habitat for Humanity – Plymouth members have provided enthusiastic support to Habitat for Humanity for the past 16 years, working three weeks each summer and many weekend days during the rest of the year. In the past 18 months, we and other churches participating in Congregations Building Communities (CBC) have built five homes. The long-range CBC goal is to build 55 Habitat houses in Heritage Park in North Minneapolis. In addition to the $6000 donation to Twin Cities Habitat required for each build week, Plymouth raised funds through the Sesquicentennial Campaign to cover its pro rata contribution to the CBC project, sponsored by Downtown Churches.

Plymouth/Westminster Affordable Housing
A Sesquicentennial partnership among Plymouth, Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation (PCNF) to develop affordable housing has begun with a bang! The two churches, facilitated by PCNF, worked together to identify the first project of the three-way partnership. In 2007, we preserved and renovated 21 units of affordable housing in the downtown area at 1801 1st Avenue South, thanks to $50,000 from Plymouth Church and $250,000 from Westminster, plus considerable grant funds acquired by the Foundation. This housing otherwise would have been at risk for market-rate conversion, displacing long-time, low-income tenants. Instead Abbott View, a 21-unit historic apartment building, was acquired and rehabilitated to remain as housing for lower-income households. Twenty percent of these units are dedicated to homeless, disabled adults. The two churches continue to meet to research additional projects within the scope of the Outreach component of the Sesquicentennial Campaign. Read more

– Lee Blons, Executive Director, PCNF

Sierra Leone—Plymouth Partnership (SLLP)
The Sierra Leone-Plymouth Partnership functions under the Board of Deacons' Global Concerns Committee; members meet regularly to plan fundraising strategies and to provide hands-on technical assistance to three remote villages (Foindu, Jokibu and Pujehun) in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Funds raised provide new roofs for family homes, clean water, medicine and education for children and teens. The Partnership has already raised $250,000, primarily from outside Plymouth, to finance village improvements. Sixteen members traveled for two weeks to Sierra Leone in May 2006, spending one week as guests in individual villagers' homes; another trip took place in 2007. For more information go to the Partnership’s website at www.slpp.org.

–Richard Jewel, Partnership Member

SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
The Plymouth Congregational Church history book has been published. It's wonderfully complete. David Kenney, noted Minnesota author and historian, has written the Plymouth story and there are many pictures from our church archives and the Minnesota History Center.

The celebrations of our 150-year story were in April 2007 with a step back into time at the church service on April 22. Many surprise "visitors" attended, and of course, we had an anniversary-with-cake party following the service.

The women of Plymouth Church were honored with a special event luncheon on Tuesday, April 24, 2007. The focus was on the waves that our Circles and Plymouth women have made throughout our church and community. There was a wonderful presentation by talented women in ministry.

A special art and archives display was prepared by the Fine Arts board, for display in the gallery in May 2007. PCC members were invited to send archives, photos and apparel to the committee for possible inclusion in the history display.

We joined with Westminster Presbyterian Church (founded at the same time as Plymouth in 1857) at Orchestra Hall on June 10, 2007 for a shared worship service. The music and the words were a joyous celebration of the contributions these two churches have made during the past 150 years as important forces in the growth and success of Minneapolis. Thanks to each of you for all you have done to make Plymouth the special place it is. Plymouth is something to celebrate every day!

–Barbara Laederach, Chair,
Sesquicentennial Celebration

Pledge Card (PDF)