PURPOSE

The purpose of this committee is to lead Trinity Lutheran through a planning, design, and building process which achieves integrated and unified facilities at the Hamilton Road campus that will support its current and long term ministry needs.

Members of the committee

• Kirk Fuemmeler - Chair

• Laura Kosinski

• Heather Moore

• Scott Weaver

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

JANUARY 2025

Exciting progress is being made on Trinity Lutheran’s building program, and we’re thrilled to share the latest updates with you. From building designs and site plans to financial considerations and next steps, here’s what you need to know about the journey ahead.

The Committee has been hard at work developing comprehensive drawings, floor plans, and site plans to bring our vision to life. Financial planning remains a top priority, ensuring responsible stewardship of our resources. As we finalize budgets and timelines, the next steps will focus on moving the project forward with clarity and purpose.

Key Features of the Floor Plan

• Our new facility will be built in phases, with the first phase laying the foundation for future growth. Here’s what the initial phase includes:

• A spacious Sanctuary, Gathering Space, Offices, and a Fellowship Room.

• A total of 18,000 square feet dedicated to ministry and community needs.

• A Ministry Center Annex to support additional ministry activities, ensuring we have ample space to serve our congregation effectively.

Key Features of the Site Plan

• A new entrance and exit from Hamilton Road for improved accessibility.

• The initial phase is clearly defined, with future phases mapped out for expansion.

• The Ministry Center Annex will be a dedicated space for youth activities, the Dorcas Circle, storage, and other essential functions, measuring approximately 40’ x 80’.

• The existing commercial building will continue to be leased and will not be used for ministry purposes at this time.

Key Features of the Exterior View

The design of our new church reflects both tradition and modern functionality:

• A prominent cross will stand as a beacon of faith in our community.

• The connection between the church and school will be strengthened.

• A rounded drop-off lane will enhance accessibility.

• Medallion windows from the current sanctuary will be incorporated within a separate budget.

• A welcoming outdoor space.

• 75 additional parking spaces, bringing the total to 225 for the congregation’s convenience.

Key Features of the Gathering Space

The Gathering Space will serve as the welcoming “front door” of our church for members and visitors alike:

• Three times the size of our current narthex, with taller 13’ ceilings.

• A café area perfect for coffee and donuts.

• Easy connection to parking and outdoor spaces.

• An adjacent Fellowship Room with seating for 75 and a kitchenette.

• Convenient seating, restrooms, and proximity to church offices.

• Beautiful limestone carvings and abundant natural daylight.

Key Features of the Sanctuary

Designed for worship, reflection, and community, our new Sanctuary will include:

• Seating for 560-600 people.

• Stunning stained glass windows from our current sanctuary.

• Elegant stonework accents that honor our church’s history.

• A slightly sloped floor for improved visibility.

• Natural light at the room’s corners to enhance ambiance.

• Traditional pew seating for comfort and reverence.

• A state-of-the-art electronic organ to enrich our worship experience.

Audio Visual and Organ Plans

• The Allen Organ Company has been selected to provide a new organ at a cost of $250,000.

• AV meetings are being scheduled with the architect and AV consultant to ensure top-tier audio and visual capabilities.

• The sanctuary will feature large LED screens instead of projectors for improved clarity and engagement.

Financial & Budget Update

• The estimated total project cost is $12.3 million.

• A detailed financial analysis, including cash flow and operating budgets, is in progress.

• Pre-approval will be secured for a Church Extension Fund loan application.

Next Steps and Timeline

FEBRUARY

• “Count Me In!” Fundraising Kick-Off begins.

• Design and budget refinements continue.

• Finalization of Ministry Center Annex building plans.

MARCH

• Financial models, cash flow, and borrowing considerations will be analyzed.

• The final construction budget will be established.

• Sunday, March 2nd: “Count Me In! – Walk of Faith Commitment”.

APRIL

• Open forums for the congregation to review the design, budget, and financial plans.

• Recommendations will be presented to the Executive Ministry Staff, Board of Lay Ministry, and congregation.

• Sunday, April 27 at 12:30 PM: Congregational Vote (Childcare will be provided).

This is a transformative moment for Trinity Lutheran, and we invite you to be part of this exciting journey. Thank you for your prayers, support, and commitment to our ministry’s future. Stay tuned for more updates as we move forward together!

Have a comment or idea to share?

DECEMBER 2024

COUNT ME IN!

Earlier this fall, a diverse group of volunteer church members were brought together to form the Financial Committee. This group has been working closely with the Building Committee and the Prayer Committee to bring our new church to life. The committee is working toward three goals: 

• Unify the Church and School around this major milestone

• Communicate the financial needs of the building project

• Work toward ensuring the church incurs the least amount of debt possible. 

This team has been pooling its talents to develop communication strategies to inspire support to help us bridge this financial gap. Be on the lookout for additional information within worship services and through various church communication channels in February. 
If you heard Pastor McBurney’s sermon on Stewardship Sunday (November 24th), then the financial needs of the project aren’t a surprise. If you missed this sermon, we encourage you to look, listen with an open heart, and pray about how you can walk in faith with us and support the project.  
The projected building costs are $11.8M. The first 2 capitol campaigns have already returned commitments of almost $6M. Your continued support for this project is paramount. The new facility on Hamilton Road is going to improve and enhance so many of our ministries here at Trinity Lutheran Church and construction is slated to start in the 2nd half of 2025.

OCTOBER 2024

The Building Committee is excited to share the design plans from our initial sessions with the architects.    This first phase includes a sanctuary which seats up to 600, a gathering space which is about 3 times the size of the current Narthex, a fellowship room which seats 70, and church offices.  Over the next few months, we will continue the development of the plans and budgets in close coordination with the Count Me In! prayer and financial outreach efforts.  We will continue to share the updated designs for feedback as we work towards finalizing the plans and next steps in late April 2025.

OCTOBER 14, 2024 voter meeting

After communicating a high level update that included:

• A building footprint and rough room layout,

• Ministry placement plan, Storage needs, and

• Outreach efforts,

with those attending the October 14th special voters meeting, a vote was passed to proceed with the design development phase with the architect and contractor including allocation of up to $150,000 from the building funds.

This request is for the second of the two design phases. The requested fees are usual and customary for this type of construction. These fees and all other architectural fees (estimated total of $600,000) are included in the target construction budget. 

SEPTEMBER 2024

Dear Trinity Family,

Exciting times are ahead! What follows is an update of the Building Committee work over the last month or so. We continue to work with the PJ Hoerr and BLDD team to complete our vision for new facilities that will breathe life into our church and school ministries. We're committed to a prudent financial approach, building in phases, and utilizing available funds to minimize borrowing.

As we refine the schematic design, we have been focusing on the design and capacity of the new sanctuary, the science of adding more parking, and the dynamic use of new church and school spaces by our staff and ministries.

Finding the Perfect Fit: We're on a quest for the ideal sanctuary size – one that comfortably hosts our current congregation while allowing room for growth. It will also serve as a fitting venue for school chapel services and events.

Solving the Parking Puzzle: More parking is not just a convenience; it's a necessity for our school families. We're navigating Bloomington's building regulations to add cost-effective parking that makes a real difference during school events and accommodates all worshippers.

Blueprints for Ministry: We're collaborating with ministry leaders and Mr. Hoffman to draft a proposal that outlines how our new and existing spaces will host church and school events over a six-month sample period.

Mark Your Calendars: By late September 2024, we'll unveil a high-level schematic design alongside a targeted budget for our congregation's review. The project timeline can be found below.

Your involvement has been invaluable, and we're deeply grateful. Please continue to support us through prayer, seeking an organized journey and a united outcome for our beloved Trinity family.

In His Service,

The Building Committee

JULY 2024

We are excited to share with you the latest news about our building program. As you know, Trinity’s Building Committee has been working hard to plan and prepare for a new sanctuary, additional parking, and gathering spaces that will serve both our church and school ministries. We are guided by five principles: action, ministry, stewardship, unity, and community.  

Here are some of the highlights of our progress so far:

• We have started the schematic design phase, which will provide high level plans and a target budget by late September 2024. We are working with the same architect and contractor that we hired in 2019, and we are using the previous work as much as possible.

• We have visited some other newer construction churches to get ideas and inspiration for our own design. We are looking for ways to create a welcoming, functional, and beautiful space that reflects our values, vision, and traditions.

• We are launching a Count Me In! outreach effort in September 2024 , which will invite everyone, including both church and school families, to support the building program through prayer and financial contributions. Our goal with “Count Me In!”is to complete the first phase of construction with little to no debt.  Stay tuned for additional information about how you can get involved.

We are grateful for your prayers, participation, and generosity as we embark on this journey together. We believe that God is leading us to create a new home for our congregation that will bless us and our community for generations to come.  

We will keep you updated as we move forward with the next steps. 
In His Service,
The Building Committee
Members: Kirk Fuemmeler, Laura Kosinski, Heather Moore, Scott Weaver
Advisory: Pastor David McBurney, Scott Lage, Scott Hoeft, Shawn Hoffman, Joe Elble Jr.

JULY 2024 VOTERS MEETING SLIDES
(click to enlarge)

MAY 2024

As you know, we have been praying and working hard to build consensus and unity around our next steps. Your feedback was invaluable. Here are the things we all generally agree on, our Guiding Principles:

• Live within our means.

• The Worship facility must be acceptable.

• Take actionable and visible steps now.

• Our actionable and visible steps should also benefit the school.

• Know that the existing church and site will be of benefit to the community somehow.

Knowing we do not have all the funds available to complete the plans, the committee has been praying for God to provide a path forward. Your feedback, summarized in the guiding principles outlined above, has provided that path. We will soon be re-engaging with the architect and contractor on a budget and the design of a phased approach starting with a sanctuary along with parking. God willing, it appears this step is within reach financially!

We will finalize the high-level architectural plan and budget over the next couple of months for this first phase. We will share more details and seek the congregation’s approval on the phases, design, and budget by the end of the summer. I believe that God has great things in store for us as we build His house and His kingdom. I also believe that He will use this project to strengthen our faith, unity, and witness in the community.

Please continue to pray for the building program and to support it in any way you can. Please pray for our church leadership, our contractors and architects, and for our congregation that we may grow in grace and love as we serve God and one another.

In His Service,
Kirk Fuemmeler
Building Committee Chair

February 2024

In 2017, the congregation voted to consolidate our church and school facilities at the Hamilton Road site. This decision was made to best support Trinity's ministry needs, and it aligns with Trinity's rich history of uniting and often reuniting the church and school ministries together in the same location.

The building committee has developed 3 possible approaches which we would like to share with you. These are not recommendations, but rather a way to inform and help gather feedback. Included is a comprehensive overview of each approach, along with the guiding principles that have shaped them. Committee members will be available to answer questions and engage in discussions over the next two weeks on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Please stop by the narthex on the main level or basement level on one of these dates after worship, to share your thoughts and feedback. (Sunday, February 25 or March 3 and Wednesday, February 28 or March 6). If there is a need, we will gladly add additional sessions.

The committee will use these sessions to determine our future actions. In April, we plan to share the insights and feedback we have gathered along with our thoughts on the congregation's next steps. Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of Trinity's building efforts.

In His Service,
Kirk Fuemmeler
Building Committee Chair

SUPPORTING MATERIALS

FLOOR PLANS POSTER

20 YEARS OF FACILITIES PLANNING BROCHURE

November 2023

In June of 2022, the committee paused its efforts due to quickly escalating construction costs. Those costs have now stabilized somewhat and as announced at the September congregational meeting the Building Committee is no longer "on pause."   Since then, we have been working with the contractor and architects on options which would allow the congregation to proceed in smaller steps over the next 3-5 years to achieve its goal of unifying and expanding our ministries and worship at Hamilton Road.  

The committee plans to be available on Sunday mornings in February and March to share, listen, and gather your feedback.   We will share more information on the dates and times for these sessions soon. 

We ask for your continued prayers for the building committee, our church leaders, and our congregation as we all work together to further our mission of "Sharing the Forgiveness and Love of the Resurrected Christ and Making Disciples." and pray for clarity and wisdom for the Building Committee.

AUGUST 2022

The Building Committee has begun a brief pause of our construction planning for six months.  Construction costs, both raw materials and labor, have seen a steep rise over the past couple of years.  Costs are rising faster than our fundraising and pledges, which is keeping the project out of reach.  A six month pause allows us to monitor the broader economic conditions for possible opportunities, and to continue to raise funds towards construction. This is only a temporary pause and not a change in direction or plans, and is similar to “pauses” we have taken in the past.   While we are pausing temporarily to see if the costs will normalize, we need your continued prayers and contributions towards the efforts. The building committee thanks you for your time and financial support thus far. Please reach out to committee chair, Kirk Fuemmeler, should you have any questions.