In 2022, the Pasadena Community Church membership voted overwhelmingly to move forward with plans to more efficiently and effectively use our sizable property and acres of buildings under roof. Our vision for the future is shaped by our respect for the rich history of Pasadena Community Church’s dedication to serving God by serving our community.
The church offered more than five acres of property for sale. The two parcels include the vacant soccer field and the property that is the current home for the PCC Preschool.
We are modernizing our entire campus to meet 21st century technology & sensitivities while keeping and respecting church traditions. Thenew preschool campus will be ADA-compliant and accessible to students, teachers, and staff with differing physical abilities. Right now, we cannot accommodate students, teachers, or staff with certain challenges. This plan allows us to be welcoming to all.
We believe that Methodism requires us to be good stewards of our resources.
A close examination of how we were using our buildings led the congregation to realize that PCC owns lots of lightly used classroom space and many areas of the church were uninviting to people who could not climb stairs or walk long distances from the sanctuary to the LEC.
At the same time, some of our buildings are aging and need or will need extensive, expensive upgrades. Before we pour money into buildings that we are not using efficiently, the church decided to realign our needs and plans with our resources.
(updated 8.24.25)
The renovation plan has adapted to the church’s evolving priorities over the years during this unfolding process.
–Reduce operating expenses by building more efficient spaces and avoiding impending repairs
-Make all buildings ADA compliant and easier for all people including children and seniors to access classrooms, play areas and meeting spaces. The plans call for the addition of an elevator in the Hamilton Building so everybody could access Sunday school and children’s classrooms.
-Provide a more secure and updated Christian-based pre-school that maintains current enrollment figures and meets/exceeds safety and accreditation standards.
-Repair significant structural issues in and under the Hamilton building that have emerged over decades
-Make the Sanctuary more welcoming by including a welcoming center and gathering space at the church entrance
-Provide a covered and safe entry to the sanctuary that is especially inviting to people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges.
-Do all of this updating, construction and improvement without imposing debt on church members.
The Thrift Mall will move to a new home, which is under discussion.
The church offices will remain in the LEC.
Even if the Hamilton Building requires too much updating to be affordable, it is possible that the chapel would likely become smaller remain.
Sports programs, including community pickleball and youth basketball, will continue.
No design or change is assured until it has been approved by the Building Oversight Committee.
The money from the property sale will be used for the renovation and for updates and repairs to some existing buildings. There is a firm commitment by the church not to take on debt or fundraise to pay for the renovations. On August 24, 2025, church members agreed to apply for a line of credit with the Florica Conference of the UMC in case a temporary loan is needed to fund immediate repairs while the church sale is being completed. Church leaders pledged to avoid taking a temporary loan unless it was clear the money would be repaid through the land sale and taking the loan was essential.
In the more than three years that this land sale and renovation has been in the works, the sanctuary suffered hurricane damage (2024), and engineering reports revealed that both the Hamilton Building and the sanctuary require significant repair and maintenance. Trustees approved replacing the LEC’s aging roof, which is funded by an anonymous gift announced on August 24, 2025.
The Trustees have appointed committees to study repair needs for the sanctuary and to make recommendations about how the church membership should prioritize spending to maintain or replace buildings.
Questions?
There are many decisions that lie ahead of us including final design plans.
But your fellow church members who are serving on the Building Oversight Committee and the subcommittees that it will appoint throughout the process will be open to your questions.
Al Tompkins is the editor and author of this website. We will document the progress with images, videos and design plans as they evolve.
The Building Oversight Committee, appointed by Trustees, will manage the sale of the parcels and will work with Churches by Daniels to complete the LEC renovation. Contracts and spending decisions require Trustee approval.
As a frame of reference, this is a copy of the resolution that passed with more than 80% of the church membership vote on October 30th, 2022.
pccforward.org 