Open Doors Capital Campaign

Goal: $1,800,000
Committed: $2,100,000 from 111 Households

Six Ways We’re Opening Doors Letter from Leaders FAQs Act Now
OPEN DOORS AT CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

God, what do you want to do through us?

For more than 160 years, Christ United Methodist Church has been a downtown presence of grace and hope. Generations before us made bold, faithful decisions that made a difference both in their time and in the future. Now it is our turn.

The Open Doors campaign is our opportunity to invest in this ministry home, ensuring that for decades to come, our doors will open wide to our city and our world.

Make Your Commitment Today
Download the Capital Campaign Journey Guide

Protecting Our Ministry Home

Our 50-year-old roof has reached the end of its lifespan, and ongoing leaks now threaten the sanctuary, Early Childhood Center, classrooms, and gathering spaces. Improperly installed metal shingles and membranes require full replacement, as temporary fixes are no longer effective. Replacing the roof — a $900,000 project — will secure a safe, reliable home for worship, ministry, and community life for the next 50 years.

Aligning with Our Values of Inclusion

Christ UMC’s sanctuary chancel is only reachable by stairs, preventing full participation by those with mobility challenges. Installing a lift and replacing the single self-opening door with wider double automatic doors ($150,000 total) will make the sanctuary and main entrance fully accessible. These updates embody our core value of inclusion and make our welcome visible, tangible, and complete.

Refreshing Ministry Spaces

Remodeling and combining the Fireside Room and Library into one flexible space ($175,000) will create a welcoming hub for small groups, classes, and fellowship. The project includes a new hospitality counter and serving area for coffee and receptions, integrating the existing kitchenette more fully. This redesigned area will provide a warm, adaptable environment where members, newcomers, and community partners can gather, learn, and grow together.

Expanding Space for Community & Play

Removing the Wesley House and expanding outdoor areas ($250,000) will create safe, welcoming spaces for Thrive Child Care & Family Resource Center, our congregation, and the wider community. The project includes a new traffic play pad for children’s learning and play, as well as improved areas for fellowship and connection. It will also bring our volunteer-maintained vegetable garden into view, supporting our food ministries and reflecting our commitment to community care.

Powering Ministry Through Solar Energy

Installing solar panels on a freestanding shade structure ($175,000) will reduce annual electricity use by about 17% while supporting our commitment to creation care and financial stewardship. The structure will also provide useful covered space for the church van or outdoor gatherings. This project demonstrates sustainable ministry in action, right in the heart of downtown Rochester.

Creating Space for Connection & Learning

Wesley Hall—one of our most active ministry spaces—needs updates to remain functional and welcoming. This $150,000 project will install air conditioning (including in the kitchen), replace worn flooring, and modernize the audio/visual system to improve comfort and hospitality. In addition, classroom technology upgrades will enhance learning for children, youth, and adults, ensuring our spaces support vibrant ministry now and in the future.

We will invest in our ministry home so it continues to serve for decades to come.

Dear Friends,

For over 160 years, Christ United Methodist Church has been a place of open hearts, open minds, and open doors in downtown Rochester. Each generation of this congregation has been called to step forward in faith by planting, building, and caring for this church so others might know God’s grace in this city.

Now it is our turn.

The Open Doors campaign is our opportunity to invest in this ministry home so it will continue to serve as a vibrant place for worship, service, and community for decades to come. Just as a new roof will protect the building for the next fifty years, accessibility upgrades will align our space with our inclusive values, refreshed gathering areas will support discipleship, solar energy will help us live out our call to creation care, and expanded outdoor spaces will extend hospitality to children, families, and neighbors.

We are pursuing these priorities because they are not just about bricks and mortar. They are about the people who gather here to worship, who are served meals on Saturdays, who find affordable clothing at Thrift on Fifth, who send their children to Thrive Child Care, who join us in partnerships for justice and compassion across the city. Every project in this campaign is about strengthening our capacity and living into our mission.

This campaign will unfold over the next three to five years. The roof is our first priority, since it is essential to the integrity of the whole facility. Other projects will follow as generosity allows. Our goal is not simply to raise funds, but to deepen our faith as we ask together: God, what do you want to do through me?

We are grateful for the faithfulness of generations before us, who built with vision so that we might have a place of welcome today. And we are grateful for the opportunity now before us to act with courage and generosity so those who come after us will find open doors, welcoming spaces, and a thriving ministry in the heart of Rochester.

With gratitude and hope,
Katie Imming, Nick Miller, and Brittni Scruggs
Open Doors Campaign Co-Chairs

Rev. Jenny Cannon and Rev. Kirkland Reynolds
Pastors, Christ UMC

Make Your Commitment Today

Frequently Asked Questions

A: Christ UMC has served in Rochester for more than 160 years and significant repairs and upgrades are needed to ensure our building remains a welcoming home for worship, service, and community. This campaign is about stewardship, continuity, and hope that secures our ministry home, aligns our physical reality with our value for inclusion through increased accessibility, and invests in spaces that help us live out our vision to be grace in the city and to ensure we offer an open door to the community.

A: The total campaign goal is $1.8 million. The largest expense is a new roof, estimated at $900,000. Additional priorities include a lift in the sanctuary, solar energy, an outdoor community space, and renovations for events and groups.

A: Our building is a home for mission and ministry. It hosts worship, meals, groups, our Thrift on Fifth thrift store, our weekly Saturday Noon Meal, and more that is just with the church. We are also home to Thrive Child Care and Family Resource Center and Three Rivers Restorative Justice, two nonprofit partnerships that further our vision to be grace in the city. We also host a variety of community events ranging from concerts, community forums, and trainings. By investing in our building now, we ensure we can continue to serve downtown Rochester for decades to come.

A: Yes. Replacing the roof and upgrading indoor and outdoor spaces are visible signs that we are committed to being grace in the city for generations to come.

A: The Open Door campaign is designed to span three years, with projects implemented as funds become available. The roof is our first priority, since addressing leaks and deterioration is essential to protecting all areas in the building. At the same time, we hope to begin accessibility improvements as early as possible so that our physical space reflects our values of welcome and inclusion. Other projects, such as solar energy, outdoor space, and the Fireside Room renovation, will be scheduled as funding allows, ensuring steady progress throughout the campaign period.

A: Our flat roof, which has served for 50 years, is at the end of its life. Repairs only happen after leaks appear, risking damage to the sanctuary, ECC, classrooms, and gathering spaces. The A-frame sanctuary roof also requires attention. While the metal cap at the top is holding up well, the metal shingles on the sides and their underlying waterproof membrane were improperly installed years ago and are now failing. Medium-term fixes have bought us time, but full replacement is the only way forward. Replacing the roof now prevents costly future damage and secures our building as a safe, reliable home for ministry for the next 50 years.

A: We will add a lift to the sanctuary chancel and install double self-opening doors at the main entrance because we believe all people should be welcomed into every part of church life. Yet our sanctuary chancel, the place where worship leaders, choirs, and musicians serve, is currently accessible only by stairs. This creates a real barrier for those with mobility challenges who want to fully participate in worship leadership. Installing a lift and expanding our entry doors will align our physical space with our core value of inclusion, ensuring that everyone has equal access to lead, serve, and share their gifts.

A: Solar energy is an investment in sustainability. It will lower our long-term utility costs, reduce our environmental impact, and visibly witness to our commitment to creation care.

A: The Fireside Room will be remodeled as a flexible space for connection and learning, with direct access to a new outdoor deck and expanded playground. Removing the Wesley House allows us to create a larger, safer, more welcoming outdoor fellowship space that will benefit the congregation, Thrive Child Care and Family Resource Center, and the local community.

A: Every gift, large or small, contributes to a stronger future for our church. Together, we are investing in spaces that will bless generations to come.

A: Yes. Our campaign is planned around a three-year commitment period, since many people find that spreading their gift out over time allows them to be more generous than they could be with a one-time gift. For example, a pledge given monthly or annually across three years can add up to a meaningful investment in our church’s future. We also recognize that every household’s situation is unique. For those who may want or need additional flexibility, we are making four and five year commitment options available as well.

A: Yes. Gifts of stock, IRA distributions, estate gifts, and other giving options can be part of your contribution. Please contact Matt White, our Director of Operations, in church office directly to discuss ways to give to the Open Doors campaign

There are many ways to give to the Open Doors campaign.  Some ways provide a better tax benefit for you.  Whether you should give appreciated stocks, IRA qualified charitable distributions, or some other method depends on your specific situation.  Speak with your financial advisor or tax accountant to determine what works best for you.  CUMC will work with you and your advisors to get you the best benefit we can.  

A: The timing of the roof replacement depends on received donations. We will need at least $450,000 in gifts to make the initial deposit, which allows the contractor to secure materials, schedule the work, and begin the project. Once those funds are in hand, we can move forward quickly. Replacing the roof is our top priority for protecting the rest of the building.

A: The A Faith of Many Rooms annual campaign and the Open Doors capital campaign are two distinct but deeply connected expressions of generosity.

The A Faith of Many Rooms annual giving campaign supports the church’s ongoing ministries, including worship, music, education, outreach, and care, that happen every day through our staff, volunteers, and programs. These gifts keep the lights on, the ministries active, and the doors open to all who come seeking community and grace.

The Open Doors campaign, on the other hand, focuses on long-term capital improvements, things like the roof, accessibility lift, and energy efficiency projects that ensure our ministries can continue in a safe, welcoming, and sustainable home for decades to come.

Both campaigns invite prayerful participation, each according to its purpose. One sustains our daily ministry in the present; the other secures our capacity for ministry in the future. Together, they reflect our shared commitment to be “grace in the city” today and for generations to come.

A: The fireplace in the Fireside Room is not functional and has been sealed shut for many years. Removing it would add some cost to the remodel, but it would also create significant additional space for meetings and gatherings. Leadership will continue to explore options and costs as the project scope is refined and resources become available.

A: We currently have two sheds on the east side of the property that store equipment for gardening, lawn care, and maintenance. Both are functional but nearing capacity and in need of some attention. One option being studied for the solar project is a larger garage-style structure that could replace both sheds and include indoor parking for the church van. Any new structure would need to support the solar panels’ weight and placement while maintaining adequate parking for Thrive Child Care & Family Resource Center and the Mayo Clinic, which leases weekday spaces in that lot.

A: The existing baptismal font near the lectern is not currently used. For several years, baptisms have been celebrated using a large shell filled with water, placed on the moveable altar table at the front of the chancel steps. This practice allows the congregation to see and participate more fully and makes the sacrament accessible to all families and guests. The unused font will need to be moved to install the new accessibility lift. Leadership is committed to caring for and repurposing it respectfully, and plans for honoring the font’s history will be shared once lift installation details are finalized.

A: There is indeed a small restroom behind the chancel that is used by worship leaders and musicians. While this restroom is not part of the Open Doors campaign’s current scope, our Leadership Board and Trustees keep a running list of needed facility updates. The chancel restroom will remain on that list for future consideration as part of our ongoing building care and accessibility efforts.

A: All projects will be managed by the church’s Leadership Board and its Trustees team, with regular updates shared with the congregation. Before any work begins, detailed cost estimates, contracts, and timelines will be reviewed to ensure good stewardship of resources. We are also in the process of bringing on a dedicated project manager to coordinate construction and remodeling efforts on the church’s behalf. This person will work closely with contractors and church leaders to represent the church’s needs and priorities, ensuring that each project is completed with care, quality, and transparency.

A: Transparency and regular communication will be a priority throughout the campaign. Updates will be shared through worship announcements, newsletters, and the church website as projects progress. Major milestones and decisions will also be communicated in writing and celebrated in worship, so the whole congregation can stay informed and connected to what Open Doors is making possible.

A: We’ll coordinate carefully to minimize disruptions to worship, weekday ministries, and partners. Clear communication and temporary adjustments will help us keep the building safely open and welcoming throughout construction. Thankfully, in our 165+ year history we’ve navigated many building projects, from new construction and major repairs to installing additional organ pipes. We have always found ways to adapt while maintaining our ministry. We will plan and communicate in ways that support our mission of being grace in the city even as this campaign’s work unfolds.

A: Yes. In addition to adding solar panels, several projects are designed to improve overall energy efficiency. These include upgrades to HVAC systems, which will reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, and shrink our environmental footprint. Together, these improvements reflect our commitment to stewardship by caring not only for our building but also for God’s creation.

A: The expanded playground will continue to serve Thrive Child Care and Family Resource Center during the week and will also be available for church and community use at other times. Safety and supervision guidelines will be followed to ensure the space remains safe and well maintained. Our goal is to create an inviting outdoor area that supports children’s growth and learning while offering a welcoming place for families and community gatherings.

By Acting Now, We Invest In:

  • A new 50-year roof
  • Accessibility upgrades
  • An expanded Fireside Room for connection and learning
  • Refreshed and improving gathering areas
  • Solar energy savings and stewardship
  • Outdoor spaces for play and community

Just as past generations built with faith and vision to bless us, now it is our turn to act with courage and generosity so that those who come after us will find open doors, welcoming spaces, and a thriving ministry in the heart of Rochester.

Make Your Commitment Today