Charge Conference: Information on Proposed Property Purchase

To:                         Members of Ocala First United Methodist Church

From:                  David & Rwth Fuquay, Co-Pastors 

Concerning: Purchase of Property at 1136 East Silver Springs Blvd

Date:                   December 1, 2016

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Ocala First UMC will convene a special Charge Conference session on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 10:00 am in the Chapel.  The charge conference will have one agenda item: “to seek approval to purchase property adjacent to Ocala First UMC.”  The Rev. June Edwards will preside.

The property in question is known as the “Shashy Property” immediately to the east of the sanctuary – 1136 East Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, Florida, 34470 (see map at bottom).

What steps were taken prior to the Charge Conference being called?

We own the adjacent property to the east, south and west. In the church master plan developed and adopted in 2011, this Shashy property was identified as a priority to purchase once it became available.  Therefore, the following steps were taken over the past few months:

• Our Church Council made the recommendation to purchase the property to our Trustees. 
• The Finance Committee advised the Trustees that funds for the purchase were available from a recent estate gift.  
• The Trustees approved and signed the contract for purchase after a lengthy period of purchase price negotiations and satisfaction of due diligence requirements.
• A request was made to the Rev. June Edwards to authorize a called Charge Conference to approve the purchase of the property in accordance with our United Methodist Discipline, Para. 2539.

Why this property? Why now?

In making the recommendation to the Trustees, the Church Council used the following rationale:

• Demonstrates faith by the congregation in the future growth and vitality of the church – a legacy to the generations of who follow us (our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren). 
• The purchase improves ingress and egress from the church campus from East Silver Springs Blvd and enhances the visibility of the church currently blocked from the east by the house.
• The purchase secures control of the development of the property from commercial developers. 
• As noted above, the church owns the property to the east, west and south of the Shashy property and our master plan recommends acquiring the property to complete the campus. 
• Short-term: the property provides additional green space for outdoor events
• Long-term:  flexibility in the development of our property as needed by future generations (e.g. accessible parking, space for future facilities, etc).

How much will it cost? How will we pay for it?  

• The total price is $387,022.83 ($375,000 plus taxes and fees). 
• The purchase will be made in cash from the proceeds of an estate gift from the Bliss Family given to Ocala First.  The estate gift is restricted to capital improvements which have been confirmed to include the purchase of the property under consideration. 
• We have a 30-day due diligence period in which time we need to receive the approval for purchase from our Charge Conference.

What will happen to the Shashy house?

The Trustees have earmarked funds for the demolition of the two existing structures which should be completed by March 2017 if the purchase is approved. Preliminary work has already been completed in identifying any requirements related to zoning, soil remediation and asbestos abatement. 

Who may vote at a Charge Conference?

The charge conference is the basic governing body of each United Methodist local church and is composed of all members of the church council convened as the Corporate Body of that church. Therefore, all members of Church Council have a vote at a charge conference session.

Legacy Giving and It’s Importance to our Congregation

Ocala First has been blessed over the years by the generosity of its members who have remembered the congregation in their estate plans.  We are grateful to the Bliss family who has made this purchase possible. Members of church council are excited that Ocala First has the means to leave a lasting legacy in this way to their children and grandchildren who will continue to call this congregation home.  Our congregation has many other present and future needs that would benefit from similar generosity. 

If you would like to speak with one of our pastors about ways you might leave a lasting legacy with this congregation through an estate gift, please contact the church office.