We had our first parish meeting on Sunday. The topic was the Vestry’s decision to take a first step in improving the acoustical environment in the sanctuary.

It was a great meeting. Our General Manager (Jim Tracy) did a thorough job of walking the congregation through the history of what?

Design flaws? Construction failures? Surprises?

For those who could not attend the meeting here are the highlights.

The sanctuary was completed in 1999. Over the next two years (2000-2002) a series of system failures began to appear.

• Roof Leaked
• Heating/Air Conditioning Failed Repeatedly
• Narthex Was Too Cold
• Complaints About Hearing Issues
• Baptistery Leaked
• Choir Moved Three Times Due to Sound Issues
• Alarm System Failed Repeatedly
• Sprinkler System Failed Repeatedly, Flooding Sanctuary

In 2003 - 2005 parish leadership began a systematic analysis of system failures associated with the new building.

• Baptistery Study by Concrete Engineering
• Roof Study by Battlefield Roofing
• Heating and Air Conditioning by Girard Engineering
• Alarm System by ADT
• Sprinkler System by Simplex/Grinell
• Acoustics and Sound by Church Design Team

To date a number of systems have been either corrected or managed.

• The Heating and Air Conditioning System is now operational.
• The Sprinkler System is fixed.
• The Alarm System is fixed.
• The roof is fixed (except for the cupola which will need attention eventually).
• The Baptistery has a low cost interim fix that is sufficient for now.
• The Narthex temperature cannot be fixed without investment in a major capital project.

The acoustical fix recommended by the acoustical engineering report is now being addressed. (For details see previous post on this blog.)

Jim Tracy also highlighted possible changes in the sanctuary that may also be pursued once the first step of installing diffuser is completed.

This may (but not necessarily) include:

• Changing the position of the Choir;
• Carpeting the sanctuary;
• Padding the pews;
• Relocating and supplementing the organ speakers;
• Replacing the sound system and speakers;
• Replacing Lighting System.

Jim noted that we cannot know what additional steps may be taken to improving hearing in the sanctuary until we can assess the effect the installation of the diffusers has on the space.

After the General Manager completed his briefing, he invited response from the congregation.

Three spoke in opposition. One parishioner questioned the questioned the need to improve the acoustical environment of the church and the wisdom of improving the acoustical environment in relation to other parish priorities. One questioned the engineering report. One questioned the source of funding the Vestry used to pay for the work. The same three expressed concern over the spending of the limited financial resources of the parish on this particular project.

A number of parishioners spoke in support of the project.

Overall I was very pleased by the attention, the tone, and the grace expressed by all of those who participated in this parish forum. I am very thankful for the hard work of our General Manager, Jim Tracy, in leading us through this process.

Jim Tracy is a gift to this parish. His personal integrity, his attention to detail, his commitment to excellence, and his openness to input from others models for us all the meaning of faithfulness in ministry.

Thank you Jim for work well done, again and again and again.