8. What will be our posture towards debt and what about the position that debt is bad, unscriptural, or “just not for RBC”?
Just as in the FOE campaign, we desire to avoid debt altogether, but we have come to the conclusion that some degree of debt may be best in the long term in order to accomplish the relocation. The amount of debt must, however, be manageable and be undertaken only with specific constraints. The warnings against debt in Scripture are aimed at situations where the borrower could or does become the slave of the lender. There are kinds of debt where the potential of slavery warned against in Scripture is not necessarily the case, as the vast majority of our congregation knows through our personal home mortgages. Clearly there are cases where debt for an individual or church are wrong, but all debt does not fall into that category.
Before debt will be considered, we must establish that the majority of the cost to relocate is covered by the sale of our Reston property plus the pledged giving commitments. If we take on debt, it will only be at a level where the leadership believes we are not enslaved by the debt – neither with regard to our annual budget nor with overly-aggressive assumptions about how much we might grow once in the new building. Another consideration is that we are now spending over $175,000 annually for our leased spaces, with costs likely to increase. Having to lease is far less desirable than paying down an affordable debt on something that is ours to use as we wish and which we’ll eventually own debt-free.
1. Relocation has been “low key” for the past few years. Why the delay and why does the leadership think that now is the time to move ahead?
2. Other than increased size and fewer worship services, what significant changes will occur in the scope and kind of ministries our church will do in the new, relocated facility?
3. Why relocate and grow larger rather than multiply and plant other churches?
4. Doesn’t the move to Dulles go against God’s raising up of this church to be a witness and ministry to the Reston area?
5. What will become of the current church property? Will some element of ministry of Reston Bible Church remain on the property?
6. How will the next effort to raise awareness and funds be different from the last time? What lessons were learned and what mistakes will be avoided?
7. What will be the approach in challenging the congregation regarding giving?
8. What will be our posture towards debt and what about the position that debt is bad, unscriptural, or “just not for RBC”?
9. What about Mike retiring?
10. What will be the sequence of what the congregation will see and hear over the next few months?
11. How can I help?
12. How can I get more information and provide my input?