Lindsay Kemple, receptionist at First Christian Church, 1000 Ky., rolls up Christmas decorations in the church's sanctuary, which was built in 1908. Church members have begun discussions about moving the church to a new location, perhaps in the Kansas Highway 10 corridor east of Lawrence.

First Christian Church, 1000 Ky., was built in 1908 with additions constructed in 1962 and 1991. Church members are considering a move away from the location, possibly to eastern Lawrence.

One of the oldest churches in Lawrence is looking for a new home – and it probably won’t stay downtown.

First Christian Church, 1000 Ky., has started exploring a move, possibly to the Kansas Highway 10 corridor east of Lawrence.

Though its pastor and members say the process is in its early stages, they also say they’ve outgrown their current space, and that it doesn’t have all the amenities they’d like to have for their ministries.

Randy Beeman, the church’s senior pastor, says the idea to relocate came from a strategic plan created two years ago.

“What we found,” he says, “was our facility limits us.”

A November vote by the congregation set the current plan in motion. The vote allowed church leaders to explore the option of moving from its current location, where it’s been since 1908.

Lori Myrick, who is chairing the church’s relocation committee, says the aging current building – which saw additions in 1962 and 1991 – needs about $1 million in renovations, including new windows.

“After that,” she says, “you’d still have the same facility with the same issues. The question is whether that is a good use of funds.”

Those issues include areas that aren’t handicapped-accessible, lack of parking, an inadequate fellowship hall and lack of meeting space.

Growing together

The church averages about 600 members during its two Sunday services, Beeman says. There are about 1,000 members.

He says knocking down the existing structure and rebuilding on its approximately 1.5 acres has been discussed. The idea of adding a second campus also was discussed.

But, he says, “The congregation didn’t want to be split. There’s a sense in this congregation that they really want to be together.”

Now, the question is where they’ll be together. Beeman says about 100 church members live in Eudora, and an additional 25 live in Baldwin City. Many of those living in Lawrence are in the fast-growing northwest section of the city.

But he says growth projections going further out – around 20 years – show the city growing east at a faster rate. That, and the large number of commuters on K-10, have the church eyeing land along that highway.

Beeman says the church would like to buy at least 10 acres. He hopes the new facility would include an updated preschool, homeless outreach with showers and laundry facilities, a larger fellowship hall/gymnasium and green space for outdoor activities, among other amenities.

Downtown church

The proposed relocation would mean a change for the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen, which has called First Christian home for two decades.

Beeman says First Christian would plan to remain a part of LINK, no matter where the church is located. He says a possible relocation of the Community Drop-In Center, which currently is located across the street at 214 W. 10th St., would be a logical time to relocate LINK as well.

That opportunity to help the homeless is one of the responsibilities that comes with being a downtown church, says the Rev. Jonathon Jensen, rector at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vt.

“There’s a very direct experience and commitment to outreach for serving those less fortunate,” he says.

But Jensen, like other downtown pastors, has been frustrated by a lack of parking. Jensen says he wishes the city would build an additional parking facility in his church’s area to serve that part of downtown.

Jensen says his church hasn’t yet had discussions over whether it would be interested in purchasing the First Christian property.

Beeman, meanwhile, says being an older, downtown church is a turnoff to some people.

“I think it’s perception,” he says. “Some people move to a community and don’t want to go to an older, downtown church.”

Still, he says, he would miss some parts of being downtown, while hoping to retain the economic and racial diversity of the church.

“I love being able to walk downtown at lunch and run into members of our congregation,” Beeman says. “There’s an eclectic spirit, and we’ll lose some of that.”

Going forward

Myrick, the relocation committee chair, says there is no timetable for moving – and just because the church is exploring the option doesn’t mean it will eventually move anywhere.

According to appraisals provided to the church, its current property is worth around $3.5 million. Myrick figures in addition to that, the church will need to raise an additional $2 million to $3 million in a capital campaign to buy land and build a new structure.

The downtown property won’t go on the market until new land is identified for purchase.

Marylee Southard, who chairs the church’s Board of Elders, says First Christian members put faith in their leaders in voting to explore relocation in November.

“There are so many factors for what we do and when we do it,” she says. “In some ways, we were asking people to vote on something they didn’t know about, because we didn’t know.”

In the end, though, she says: “The church is us. It’s not the building.”