by Pastor Dan Baumgartner

The ball started rolling in Spring of 2009 when Bethany’s Session commissioned an engineering study which confirmed beyond doubt that our 1929 building (sanctuary, education wing/parlor and tower) needs a major seismic retrofitting to make it safe in case of severe earthquake. The project is not optional if we are going to continue to base ministry and worship out of this location on top of Queen Anne. Nor is the project cheap— we’re using $1.5 million dollars as a very, very rough ballpark until more precise figures come in. That is roughly the size of one year’s annual budget.

Since the report, a number of important steps have been taken. Session agreed that Bethany needed to move ahead with this. Mike Christensen came on board as Facilities Director. An initial team (building: Chair John Battle, David Yuan, Dan Wickline, Mike, Janette Plunkett. Capital campaign: Greg Nelson, Dave Westburg) was approved. The building team wrote a request for bid (RFB) for a lead architect for the project, who will help get firmer financial numbers and understand options. Six firms submitted bids, two finalists were interviewed and a final decision was near as the Briefs went to press.

Now comes the important part: YOU! The project team will hold open meetings at Bethany on Tuesday, March 2, at 7 pm and on Sunday, March 7, at noon. While the Team has some information and options to present, they particularly want to hear feedback and input from our congregation to help guide next steps in process, fundraising and other areas. If you have questions, please contact John Battle at 206.284.8284 or Mike Christensen at 206.284.2222, ext 22.