Government Grants of $110,000 is Being Awarded to SLI for ExclusiveUse on Epworth (Performance) Hall

The SLI Trustee Board continues to be treated to excerpts of the requirements and documents that are a part of the government grant-awarding agreement. There are more documents which need to be signed to complete the award and there is a consensus among the Board that we should make every effort to conform to the wording of the agreements we are being asked to sign.

SLI has actively sought these three grants which total $110,000 which is to be primarily used for a study of Epworth's needs, a new roof, adequate ventilation, re-directing drainage from the roof and property away from the building in the best effort to eliminate moisture and dampness from the foundation and basement rooms. It is a consensus of the Trustee Board that the documents we are being asked to sign give strong indication that Epworth should not be the prime nor advertised location for religious worship with the possible exception of Epworth being a rain location. Our signage and advertising should reflect this neutrality.

The Board was reminded that the worship services held outside were the ones that experienced the best attendance. Retired Chaplain Greg Franklin was then asked if he would have any problem with the worship services taking place exclusively in locations other than Epworth Hall, to which he responded that he, personally, would not have a problem with it, although he was the only member of the Worship Committee present. Another Board member suggested that another possibility would be to use a tent in the Park more often as a location.

One of the last discussions involved the Christian Cross installed on the back stage wall and the lithograph of Jesus on the Stage Left wall. It was suggested that both become part of the History Room in Epworth Hall and that this be done before any of the work gets approved or started to insure that visitors to the work site do not receive conflicting messages or view potential violations.