There Is a Time to Build, Tom Schermerhorn

Presentation Description

Are your ministry needs pushing the limits of your physical facilities? What needs to be considered when contemplating a building project? Where do you start? This presentation will discuss how to organize and prepare a congregation for a successful building program while avoiding some potential pitfalls. Topics that will be touched upon include:

• Ministry Needs
• Building Committee
• Finance Committee
• Architectural Selection
• Builder Selection
• Land Selection
• Building Approvals
• Site Approvals
• The Design Process
• The Construction Process
• Project Delivery Options
• Budgets
• Financing

This presentation will be geared towards congregational leaders and pastors and is designed to help them navigate a building project successfully.

Speaker Bio

Tom Schermerhorn

Tom Schermerhorn is a registered professional engineer and architect in thirty states. He has over 45 years of experience in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry. His experience includes working with nearly 75 WELS and ELS congregations on various building projects. Projects include everything from sanctuaries, fellowship halls, gathering spaces, schools, and site development. This includes new projects, additions, and alterations.

Tom’s congregational ministry experience includes serving on the board of elders, youth discipleship board and president of Faith Lutheran Congregation in Fond du Lac, Wis. He also serves as chairman for the Winnebago Lutheran Academy (WLA) New Campus Committee and on the Capital Campaign Committee for WLA. Additionally, Tom serves as the Northern Wisconsin Representative to the Synodical Council where he sits on the Finance Committee, Account Oversight Committee, and the Capital Projects Committee for the synod.

Tom has been blessed to serve on building committees for both Faith Lutheran Church and WLA and work with numerous congregations as they plan facilities to serve their ministry. This experience helps him appreciate how a project works from all perspectives.