TEXAS OFFICE NEWS NOVEMBER 29, 2016

UPCOMING DATES
Jan 23-25:
PSP National Fund Co-hort
Training, First Christian
Church, Fort Worth, TX

Feb 27, 28 & Mar 1:

TIMING CAN BE EVERYTHING!

2017 Preservation Texas

Summit, Waco, TX

When it comes to the life of a sacred place, PSP knows that support at just
the right time makes all the difference. Consider this example from Oak
Lawn United Methodist Church, Dallas.
Oak Lawn is an anchor congregation in the Big D, one whose fabled history is
decidedly Texan. The story goes that Rev. Hiram Cullum, an itinerate
Methodist preacher, rallied the first congregants around his covered wagon in
1876 along the banks of Turtle Creek. Dallas had been officially incorporated
only 20 years earlier.

Our commitment, says Rev. Dr. Anna

Hosemann-Butler, Oak Lawns Senior Pastor,
has been to stay in this neighborhood, to
minister exactly where we are planted, no
matter what economic or demographic
changes we face.
The newly formed church bloomed with the city, eventually becoming a
landmark that stretched an entire city block. And like many mainline
churches, its trajectory took a painfully familiar arc peaking in the 1950s
with over 3,000 members, then declining significantly in the following
decades.
During those years, the changes in Oak Lawns downtown neighborhood were
immense. There was a period of when it shifted from an upscale environ to one
considered undesirable. By the 1980s, property prices plummeted and many
people fled. But throughout it all, Oak Lawn had a defining characteristic.
Our commitment, says Rev. Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler, Oak Lawns Senior
Pastor, has been to stay in this neighborhood, to minister exactly where we
are planted, no matter what economic or demographic changes we face.
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church (then)

For inner-city churches with huge facilities, that commitment can be difficult
to sustain. The cost of maintaining the structure while paying staff and fueling
ministries has caused many historic sacred places to close their doors forever.
In a bid to avoid this fate, Oak Lawn sought the help of PSP, participating in a
2007 New Partners/New Dollars training sponsored by the North Texas
Conference of the United Methodist Church. After the training, Oak Lawn
retained its close ties to PSP. In 2010 it applied for, and received, a small grant
to conduct a building assessment. The report uncovered costly deferred
maintenance, most notably the critical need to replace their roof which
stretched three quarters of a block. Oak Lawn wondered, Where will we get
the funds for these repairs
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church (now)

Contact Us
6040 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Suite 62
Fort Worth, TX
817-965-5072
syowell@sacredplaces.org
www.sacredplaces.org
www.txsacredplaces.org

It was at this exact juncture that PSP provided a bridge to the future. Because
of its reputation in fueling the restoration and revitalization of sacred places,
PSPs work with Oak Lawn attracted a donor willing to make a sizeable gift of
$100,000, earmarked for Oak Lawn but administered through PSP.
How much difference did this make? Rev. Dr. Hosemann-Butler explains.
When I first came on board at Oak Lawn, we were getting our new roof thanks
to PSP. That grant was critical. It helped us not only replace our roof and
accomplish other repairs; it allowed us to redirect funds to other areas of
redevelopment.
Suzy Yowell, Director of PSPs Texas Office says, The congregation of Oak
Lawn doesn't just talk about embracing change and engaging their
community, they live it! In addition to the numerous programs they host
inside their building, they also take their mission and energy into the
neighborhood. The people and businesses around them see the congregation
as friendly and accepting neighbors who provide for the needs of others. Truly
knowing and understanding your community plays a key role in setting the
stage for long-term sustainability. Oak Lawn is a model for this!