First Baptist Church of Dearborn, in Dearborn, Michigan, had a problem. The original 1924 building had received renovations and additions in 1939, 1949, and 1964, resulting in a five-level structure with multiple stairways. The expanded complex covered a full city block. These renovations and additions created barriers for those with limited mobility. A lift had been installed on stairs leading from one outside door to the sanctuary, but subsequent changes in the law and potential need for repair have rendered it inadequate. Church activities and community demographics make full barrier-free access to all parts of the original building a priority for the church. Dr. Paul J. Little is the pastor of this very active church. Present membership is 360 with average Sunday morning worship service attendance of 196. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, the church has frequent services for healing, child dedications, graduate recognition, and other special occasions. Sunday school classes are held for all ages following the service and a short fellowship time. Bible studies and new member instruction classes are scheduled throughout the week, and a vacation Bible school for children is held every summer. The church has three active choirs, a full orchestra, and a well-stocked library managed by a church librarian and a historian. First Baptist also videotapes its services and makes the tapes available to the homebound. The church is also regarded as somewhat of a community center. Groups using the church facilities from time to time include nursery schools, senior citizens, neighborhood associations, exercise classes, ministerial meetings, and small, ethnic congregations. The city of Dearborn (population approximately 90,000) has an estimated 19,600 residents who are considered disabled in some way. Fifty-three percent of the 22,300 residents over the age of 55 also have disabilities. A growing awareness of the need to address the problem of barrier-free access became the focal point for further church renovations. The need for improvement was acute for members, visitors, staff, and employees, and not just for those with crutches, canes, walkers, braces, casts, and wheelchairs, but also for those who are pregnant, carrying children in arms, or suffering from heart disease, back trouble, poor eyesight, or dizziness. It Starts With a Plan Understanding the need to get full support from the congregation before beginning any construction or even approving money for it, the church undertook a four-step process to initiate the project and secure congregational support. These steps took the better part of four years to implement. The steps were: 1) Select an architect; 2) Study the feasibility of the proposed solution; 3) Research the architect's proposal in detail; 4) Prepare a comprehensive plan for communicating the project plan to the membership. To begin the architect selection process, church leaders gathered the names of several architects from many sources, such as directories, associations, and other churches. Online sources that could be used included the Your Church website, www.yourchurch.net, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) website, www.aia.org. The church selected an architect who is a member of AIA, one who enjoyed an outstanding record of successfully working with clients who had similar access needs. With approval from the congregation, he was engaged to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study. The feasibility study revealed the startling scope of work needed to meet the church's goals. The installation of an elevator that could reach all five levels of the complex would require considerable structural modifications. In addition, two new unisex restrooms would be installed. Based on the feasibility study, the architect was given the go-ahead to prepare preliminary drawings and plans. Next, members of the Operations Improvement Committee did extensive research on the plan. They requested, received, and studied sales literature from elevator companies. They investigated other area churches that were using small "elevettes," and discovered that this option would not work in their plans. Instead, they determined that a three-door, custom-made elevator that reached all five floors was the only viable alternative. They sought and obtained provisional approval for the plans from city officials, and received a special variance from the state. After completing the research, committee members and church leaders began the final phase of the program, which was to prepare various communications for the congregation. At this point, no construction had occurred, but the church was on the verge of making commitments for the $500,000 project. The detailed plan needed congregational approval before construction could begin. Model Communication The committee's approach was to inform the congregation through many forms. The project was frequently mentioned from the pulpit during worship services. Sunday bulletins and weekly newsletters continued to inform the congregation week after week. Committee members stood by prominent architectural drawings displayed in the sanctuary and in the fellowship hall to answer questions and interpret the plans. A detailed, remarkably accurate, three-dimensional model showing the construction improvements was also prominently displayed. The model sparked a great deal of enthusiasm for the plan by helping everyone visualize the proposed finished product and appreciate its benefits. The model was prepared as a class project by a young architectural student in the congregation. The church would have otherwise spent hundreds of dollars to have the model professionally crafted, but from the response it elicited, the money would have been a worthwhile investment. Special meetings were held solely devoted to discussing the proposed construction. An attractive, 81¼2 x 11, multicolor, 10-page brochure was mailed to everyone in the church. The brochure included quotes from key members of the congregations, such as "From one week to the next one never knows who would benefit from this." The objective of all these efforts was to communicate at both the spiritual and practical levels the full value of the project, and to enhance the community image. The desire was to welcome all to church, especially those with physical needs arising from congenital conditions, disease, or accidents. It was also important to retain accessibility for present members while serving the needs of potential new members. Church leaders agree that some elements could have been improved. But the renovation project received an exceptionally favorable vote of over 95 percent, a reflection of a congregation committed to moving forward aggressively to serve the Lord. George Green is a freelance photojournalist, transportation historian, archivist, and lecture. This article originally appeared in YOUR CHURCH magazine, July/August 2004. RELATED PRODUCTS Accommodating Special Needs at Your Church Senior Safety Free Safety Alert e-newsletter |
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