February 24, 2012

BC CONFERENCE LAUNCHES NEW PROPERTY RESOURCE SERVICE

BURNABY, BC – BC Conference has developed a new service to provide leadership on property assessment and development matters to congregations and other ministries within the Conference.

Changing demographics and changing dynamics have made property issues increasingly significant to the life and work of the United Church. It is a challenge of our age to have to redefine and re-imagine how to use our buildings and properties to continue living out our mission. Congregations throughout British Columbia are asking these questions. They have begun to explore how to use their buildings and properties in ways that will be a better fit with how they are now doing ministry. They are asking for support to help them repurpose their property assets into financial assets, so they can continue to serve new forms of congregational life, now and for generations to come. Conference’s new property resource initiative can answer these questions, and support and serve these congregational efforts.

Working under Conference’s Property Development Council –which has the mandate for providing property-related services – and at the direction of the Executive Secretary, Conference staff will partner with professional consultants to create a small Property Resource Team. This team will be available, upon request, to work with Presbyteries, congregations and other ministries to look at property assets in the light of mission needs. The vision document entitled, Assets & Possibilities: The Faithful Stewardship of United Church Property outlines the purpose and mechanisms of this new initiative.

Terry Harrison will provide leadership to the Property Resource Team, working with Justen Harcourt and the Colliers International group. Terry and Justen worked together using a similar team approach, which contributed to the successful completion of the Camp Future Project. Terry Harrison will transfer out of her role as Conference Minister in Victoria Presbytery to lead the new Property Resource Team. She will continue to serve as the Coordinator for the new Conference Camping Ministry.

The merit of this kind of initiative has long been contemplated, but the expressed need for this service has been increasing at a faster rate than anticipated. The need is real and compelling, culminating in BC Conference’s decision to act now to put the Property Resource Team in place immediately.

For more information, please contact Executive Secretary, Doug Goodwin, at 1.604.431.0434 or (BC) 1.800.934.0434. Terry Harrison can be reached at 1.250.385.3064, terry2 [at] shaw [dot] ca and Justen Harcourt at 1.604.692.1494, Justen [dot] Harcourt [at] colliers [dot] com

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