Building Use Policies

Principles that Underlie Proper Uses of the Church Facility [See Appendix for more detail.]

“...His people today are to remember that the house of worship is the Lord’s property and that it is to be scrupulously cared for.”  Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 248

Reverence needs to be maintained in the sanctuary always on all occasions.  “Unless correct  ideas of true worship and true reverence are impressed upon the people, there  will be a growing tendency to place the sacred and eternal on a level with common things...”  5T500

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31NKJV

Fund-raising projects should be in harmony with the beliefs and standards of the SDA Church.

Purposes and/or Uses of the Areas within the Church Building

Sanctuary

• The Auditorium has been consecrated for sacred uses only. Reverent behavior is proper and recommended at all times.
• The Sound room is off limits to all unless permission is gained from the sound technician. Follow instructions given by the Sound Technician.
• The Mother’s room is an extension of the sanctuary provided for parents with small children. Respect the desires of all to follow the service with minimal distractions.
• The Baptistery area is used during baptismal services for dressing rooms for those being baptized.

Kitchen only meets regulations for warming foods; it is not classified as a commercial kitchen. See special section on kitchen/dining area policy guidelines for use.

Multi-purpose room may be used for any purposes in harmony with S.D.A. beliefs and standards.

• Examples of sacred purposes: prayer meetings, evangelistic and outreach meetings, seminars.
• Examples of secular purposes: funeral dinners, wedding receptions, private celebrations, sales

Narthex, halls, storage spaces, restrooms must be kept clean, free of nonessentials, and neat.

Education wing uses are governed jointly by the Church Board and the Education Board.

• Principal’s office and storage room are supervised by the principal/teacher for school uses.
• Classroom is shared jointly by the day school and the Sabbath School.
• Big room will be divided into two rooms for church and school uses.

Church property bears witness of our church to the community and needs to be kept attractive. Invite the sheriff to patrol the property from time to time to discourage improper use of area.

• All need to help maintain the care and beauty of the property.
• Parking lots are for church and school uses only.  Guard against unsupervised uses of it.
• Playground rules to promote safe Christian conduct are determined by the Education Board.

Traverse City S.D.A. Church Fee Schedule for Renting the Facility

Click here to view photographs of the facility.

The multipurpose wing and kitchen always rent as a unit.  No half-day rates are given. Wedding parties may be allowed additional time for practicing and decorating, if needed.

Fees for Non-Members

• Church wing (Sanctuary) only. . . $200/day        
• Multi-purpose wing/kitchen. . . . . . . $200/day
• Church wing and multi-purpose wing/kitchen. . . $350/day
• Security deposit . . . . $100.             

A $100 deposit reserves the date.  Full rent payment is due two weeks prior to the date of the reservation.  If full rent payment is made, if the reservation is kept, and if the rooms used are left clean and restored to their original order by the next day, the $100 deposit will be refunded.

Fees for Traverse City SDA Church Members

• Members may use the facility free of rental charges with permission from the Church Board.
• A $100 deposit required to reserve the date will be refunded if the checklist of cleaning tasks is completed after the event and rooms used are restored to their original order by the next day.

Procedure for Reserving Specific Areas for Use

Direct requests to use the facility to the head deacon who will facilitate the requests according to church building use and care policies.  In his absence contact the elder, pastor, plant support leader.  Begin the rental process early to allow time for the Church Board in session to act upon your request.  Requests for use of the facility will be granted or denied on the basis of the following criteria:

Type of event must be suitable for the space requested.

• Secular events are limited to areas for secular uses.
• During any event activities which violate SDA beliefs and standards are prohibited: examples of such are smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, dancing, gambling.
• The events must be of a nature that has a wholesome, not detrimental, influence upon the church’s reputation among the members and in the community.

Time requested must not interfere with the scheduling of events prioritized as listed:  Sabbath worship services, contractually obligated services, evangelizing outreach meetings, prayer meetings, board meetings, vespers, youth meetings, church programs, school programs, weddings, funerals, showers, sales, private parties, etc.  The Church Board will resolve scheduling conflicts.

Specific persons must be assigned responsibility for the facility’s proper care.  They’re required to provide sufficient staff to supervise attendees and to do the tasks related to using the facility.

When the reservation is made, pay the $100 security deposit.  The full rental payment  must be paid two weeks prior to the date of the reservation.  Payments must be made only by checks made payable to Traverse City S.D.A. Church.  Renters who fully complete all the requirements related to their renting by the day after their events will have their deposits refunded within 30 days.

Procedures for the General Care of All Section(s) of the Facility

Behavior:   Christian behavior manifests loving reverence for God, respect for the church, love for the people in it and care to maintain cleanliness of the facility inside and out.

Children:    Children require supervision to nurture Christian behavior.  To prevent accidents, no reckless running,      pushing, roughhousing, climbing are permitted.

Clearing:    Pick up any items left behind by your group and take them with you.

Cleaning:    Do whatever is needed to restore the rooms you used to their original order.

Damages:   Report any damages or items needing special attention to the caretaker in charge.

Doors:       Use main entrance doors for all functions that are not using the education wing. 

Food:         Consume all food and drinks in the designated areas during meals, not in halls or sanctuary

Heat:         Thermostats are set by the caretaker in charge.  Do not try to adjust them.  Seek help.

Keys:         Keys must be obtained from the head deacon, who must have keys to all parts of facility.

Lights:       Lights need to be turned off when they are not needed and before exiting the building.

Locks:       Check to see that all accessible exit doors are locked before you leave the building.

Pets:          Except for seeing-eye dogs, no pets or other animals are allowed in the building.

Restroom:  Check to see that no water is running and turn lights off before leaving the building.

            Telephone: Limit uses of phone to only necessary calls.  Avoid making any long distance calls on it.                                 (The church is charged for each call made: there is no “free” access to the phone for us.)

Plant Maintenance and Inventory

• Plant Support Team must plan and execute a Maintenance Schedule for the church property.
• Plant Support Leader, assisted by departments,  must do a full church property  inventory annually.

To report any technical or content problems contact Kerry Kelly by e-mail or call 231-228-4050