There is an old expression: Going at it hammer & tong. That describes precisely how the formally established Building Committee launched its efforts to put into words what Heritage hoped to become, our aspirations for the present and future, as guidance for the architect we ultimately would employ. In part, our formal charge was, "....to insure by the best means available the provision of an ultimate development that embodies the true concepts of Presbyterian beliefs pertaining to the worship of God and Christian witness and that at the same time is physically adequate to accommodate and promote the mission of the church for now and many years hence..."

There were numerous long, late night meetings. Many were contentious; many had their light-hearted moments. One of the latter stands out in particular for the proposition that there be a large chandelier in the sanctuary. The discussion went, "Well, we can't have one." "Why not?" "Well, we can't order one." "Why not?" "Because nobody knows how to spell it!" End of discussion. Would you ever think that discussion could center on the use of artillery target cloth as curtains for the clerestory windows overhead? Well, it did, and we did use such for a number of years.

The conduct of planning and building programs embodies "milestones," and the collective output of the subcommittees charged with specific tasks relating to church life represented our very first milestone. Those chairing the subcommittees were: Area Data Survey - Henry Green, Worship - Robert Hill, Christian Education - Paul Potts, Furnishings & Equipment - Agnes Shanks, Fellowship - John Ritchey, Administrative & Other Facilities - John McLellan. I found that the Lutheran Church had a wealth of excellent experience and materials to draw on, and this resource was utilized extensively to develop the working materials needed to accomplish the subcommittee tasks.

Building to the glory of God is a religious act of evangelism that demands as much devotion, faith, and stewardship as anything the church is ever called to do. Generations of congregational life are affected; therefore, it was not sufficient for us simply to enter the building program armed only with a handful of miscellaneous statistics, a fund campaign, and an architect. Rather, the subcommittees probed deeply for answers to:

1. What is the true meaning of the church; that is, the church that is something more than brick and stone?

2. What are the beliefs, theology and guiding principles of the church that are relevant to carrying out its tasks and meeting its responsibilities?

3. Why is the church in this community and what are its tasks and responsibilities for the future?

4. How does the church plan to accept the challenges and realize the opportunities for the future?

The ultimate written expression of this analysis became the church's "Program for Christian Witness" that was formally approved by the congregation and later handed to the architect as a basis for designing a complex that in every respect would speak what we desired it to speak in terms of theology, worship, education, thrift, ethical practice, and representative government. Throughout, there was no attempt to delve into any of the fine points of speculative or dogmatic theology. Instead, the attempt was to consider at the lay level certain of the principal points of Presbyterian faith considered significant to responsive architectural design.

Regarding education goals alone, consider this excerpt from the 1964 Program and reflect on its relevance today: "The Presbyterian Church does not have a neat social program for the world. It does have a social conscience. This conscience must find expression in business, in politics, in race relations, in labor and management relations, and in every other relation in which Presbyterians live. It must be a Christian conscience. It must be an educated conscience. It must be a conscience that dares to lay hold on the redemptive power of God in Jesus Christ. It must never limit the power of the Gospel to a few small areas of life, but must take Christ into every area and relationship in life. Only so will religion be relevant and effective. Only so will we declare our faith in the power of Christ to transform our society through transformed individuals in society."

Forecasting change for planning purposes is a formidable challenge in an ever-changing world. The next article will address the numerous details covered by the subcommittees in seeking a first unit enabling our own role in the transformation of individuals.