Green Building Update: New LEED Version 3 to Launch April 27th

Image from http://www.usgbc.org.

Church leaders and building project planners with their sights on environmental stewardship can expect an updated LEED certification process at the end of the month. The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announces that LEED Version 3 will launch on April 27, 2009. The council reports, on its website, that "the ability to be flexible allows LEED to evolve" and take "advantage of new technologies and advancements in building science while prioritizing energy efficiency and CO2 emissions reductions."

LEED v3 is made up of three components: LEED 2009, with advancements to the rating system; LEED Online, for a faster and more intuitive user experience; and a new Certification Process, based on ISO standards and administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) for improved capacity, speed and performance.

LEED v3 also reportedly contains three project-specific rating systems for greater efficiency, and project teams may choose the most applicable of the three systems. The three are Green Building Design and Construction, Green Interior Design and Construction and Green Building Operations and Maintenance.

Projects registered under an earlier version of LEED can be transferred to LEED v3 after April 27th, and all projects registered through LEED v3 will use LEED Online version 3. For more information and to find a chart entitled "How Does LEED v3 Affect Me?" visit www.usgbc.org.

www.usgbc.org

TFC Info, Worship Facilities Magazine and Church Production Magazine Survey Shines New Light on Church Video Display Use

A new survey shows that churches are increasingly turning to display technologies to fuel membership growth. Houses of worship are of special interest to display manufacturers because they require a variety of display solutions. Because interest and demand are high, yet information is limited, Odessa, Fla.-based audiovisual researcher TFC Info, in conjunction with Church Production Magazine and Worship Facilities Magazine, recently conducted an extensive end-user research study to explore the use of projectors and flat panel displays in American churches.

TFC Info surveyed 700 respondents, all responsible for the A/V equipment at their houses of worship, to compile the research report, "The Use of Video Displays in American Churches 2009."

The 2009 report provides historical trend analysis by contrasting current results with those of TFC Info's earlier surveys. One of those trends is the growth in the number of projectors a church owns over time. The churches in this research that state they have three or more installed projectors have gone from 16% in 2004 to 39% in 2009.

Additionally, of the A/V-focused churches that TFC Info surveyed (churches that have made a strategic and financial commitment to integrate audiovisual equipment into their worship services), 41% state that they currently own at least one flat panel display 32-inch+ (LCD or plasma). Based on the need for multiple visual aids in larger churches, and the cost of flat panel displays being more affordable, churches will be looking more to flat panel displays, the study shows.

"In this research we found just how extensive the need for A/V equipment is in churches, and that these churches have the buying power to purchase it," states Tanya Lippke, TFC Info manager of survey market research. "This is good news for manufacturers and dealers, especially as the trend of using 'multimedia' in churches continues to increase steadily."

In this report TFC Info not only analyzes the church market as a whole, but goes beyond to break the sample into various demographic groups. Research results are provided in total, by church size (seats), and geographic location (Northeast, South, West and Midwest). This allows companies to compare and contrast the preferences and purchasing of churches of varying sizes and in varying locations across the United States.

For a complete brochure and outline of the study, contact Lippke at (207) 783-0055 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

www.tfcinfo.com  |  www.churchproduction.com  |  www.worshipfacilities.com

Maryland Church Seeks Aid to Raise Regional Landmark

Laurel, Miss.-based Headrick Co. created a computerized image to help cement a Cumberland, Md.-area church’s vision to raise three massive crosses on a highly visible hill behind its facility.

Friends in Jesus Evangelistic Church near Cumberland, Md., has begun site work to build two 150-foot crosses and one 153-foot cross on a seven-acre hill behind its facility in Cresaptown, Md. Church cross and sign manufacturer Headrick Co. of Laurel, Miss., developed a computerized plan for the crosses that will ensure they are seen for miles around the Cresaptown area, according to a Headrick account executive, John Rebry.

Pastor Bartholomew Frankenberry with Friends in Jesus has begun a capital campaign to raise money for the project following a vision to erect the crosses. Information on the project and on donation contribution is available by calling Frankenberry at (301) 707-0922 or (301) 729-1122.

www.headricks.com  |  www.FriendsinJesus.net

Wireless Microphone Manufacturer Shure Keeps Tabs on FCC

The Shure ULXP wireless mic system, one choice for churches, uses an automatic frequency selection function to choose from 1,400 on-board frequencies.

In an ongoing move to protect existing church wireless mic users, Shure Inc. of Niles, Ill., filed a Petition for Reconsideration on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) White Spaces Rules (docket 04-186) published in the Federal Register in February.

"Whether the Commission's new 'White Spaces' rules successfully protect incumbent operations, including particularly wireless microphone operations, in this challenging spectrum environment is a matter determined by the specific details of the FCC's rules. It is imperative that these rules provide sufficient protection when actually implemented in real world environments," says Mark Brunner, senior director of industry and public relations for Shure. "It is critical that the FCC's technical and operational rules—including pre-certification testing rules—‘get it right’ before mass-produced equipment is pushed into the market."

Shure urged in its filing that the Commission impose rigorous certification testing, open to the public, on hybrid geolocation/sensing devices that help keep competing wireless devices from interfering with church wireless mic frequencies. Shure also sought reconsideration of the FCC decision to permit portable devices to operate on first adjacent channels to DTV. At a minimum, Shure is asking that the FCC reduce the allowable power of TV band device (TVBD) operations on adjacent channels.

To prevent devastating interference to wireless microphones, Shure urged modification of several technical and behavioral rules:

• TVBDs must demonstrate that they maintain sensitivity to the -114 dBm level in the presence of strong signals on adjacent channels, a common scenario in real world operations
• In-service monitoring requirements should be revised to require rechecks every 10 seconds
• A 60 minute non-occupancy period should be adopted for TVBDs
• High power fixed TVBDs should be required to avoid a two kilometer protected zone around wireless microphones
• Geolocation databases should synchronize at least once an hour
• TVBDs should be required to access the database and confirm frequency availability in real-time or near real-time
• The period of time that TVBDs may continue operating after losing contact with the database should be reduced from 24 to 4 hours.

Finally, Shure urged the FCC to make clear that TVBD manufacturers, TVBD users and geolocation database administrators may not pick and choose which wireless microphone operations to protect from TVBD interference based on microphone application, power level, license status or any other characteristic. Shure maintains that to do otherwise would abrogate the Commission’s commitment in this proceeding to protect incumbents and harm an important and vital technology critical to many sectors—contrary to the public interest.

In addition to Shure's Petition for Reconsideration, several other companies and organizations submitted their own filings, including the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Dell, Microsoft, Motorola, Sprint-Nextel and Adaptrum.

For more information visit www.shure.com

www.shure.com  |  www.fcc.gov

Managing Ministry Funds, a Q&A for Churches Large and Small

Mark Jones, vice president and senior banking consultant, ECCU, Brea, CA

Worship Facilities Newsbyte picked the brain of Brea, Calif.-based Evangelical Christian Credit Union (ECCU) Vice President and Senior Banking Consultant Mark Jones for this month’s topic. Read on to learn the advice Jones has for church leaders on the topic of managing ministry funds.

Newsbyte: What are the best ways for churches to invest and grow their money to be used toward missions and outreach, if they have anything left over after operating expenses?
Jones: Especially in this economy, what’s best for one church isn’t necessarily best for another. The best starting point for any church, however, is to assess their financial management practices with four goals in mind: to ensure financial integrity, maintain liquidity, maximize cash flow and leverage assets.

Financial integrity is certainly a goal and a standard we all want to maintain. However, with the busyness and the potential need for cutbacks, we may drop our guard in ensuring that integrity exists within our organization. Financial integrity requires not only that you have the right policies and procedures in place to protect the church’s financial assets, but also that you ensure they are being followed. Dual custody, separation of duties and other internal controls go a long way toward preventing fraud and engendering confidence that you’re handling funds responsibly.

Maintaining liquidity starts with a cash flow analysis and involves setting an appropriate liquidity target balance for your ministry. Especially in today’s economic environment, it is critical that you have adequate funds to pay not only for planned expenses but also unplanned expenses and ministry opportunities. As you analyze your unique situation and needs, a general guideline suggests that your church should have liquidity equal to 60-90 days of budgeted expenses.

You can maximize cash flow by making sure it’s easy for your donors to give to your church. You most likely have been looking for every way possible to trim expenses, but don’t forget to look at ways to increase cash inflow. Some ways include setting up options for recurring gifts, communicating how donations are helping to accomplish your mission, and accommodating electronic donations if you don’t already. Another way is to free up cash reserves by establishing a line of credit as part of your liquidity target rather than maintaining all your liquidity as cash.

Finally, leveraging assets can range from broadening use of your property to borrowing against your own deposits. Two examples of broader property use would be to rent out rooms during the week or open an income-generating business, such as a bookstore, on campus. A deposit-secured loan is one way to use your funds without actually tapping into them. A San Francisco Bay Area church, for example, wanted to renovate a portion of their facility but was unable to obtain financing. While they had a sizable amount of money on deposit as emergency funds, they did not want to deplete their cash for this small project. The solution was a deposit-secured loan.

Newsbyte: Has ECCU worked with a church lately that you can reference and let us know the results? Describe the ways you helped that church, and to what end result.
Jones: One example would be Joshua Springs (California) Calvary Chapel [in Yucca Valley, Calif.]. This church of 1,500 families is located in Yucca Valley, a small town in the High Desert that has been especially hard hit by the economy. After consulting with us, they saw the need to manage their cash more cautiously. We revised their account structure to give them quicker access to cash when they needed it, which let them stay focused on ministry. And the church seems to have responded. Senior Pastor Jerel J. Hagerman says that in spite of the tough times, giving has been generous.

Newsbyte: What about small churches—what are some steps they can take to better manage funds and make sure they have enough resources to put toward outreach and/or missions?
Jones: When it comes to cash handling and security, smaller churches may not have enough staff members to follow all the appropriate principles and procedures. If that’s your situation, we recommend bringing volunteers into the process to implement these checks and balances.

Maintaining adequate liquidity can be difficult for smaller churches as well. The important first step after identifying a target balance is to start working toward it. And while it may take time to reach that target, every step closer creates that much more capacity to respond when unexpected expenses or ministry opportunities arise.

Newsbyte: How much does it typically cost for a church to have an analysis to help them get on track with managing ministry funds?
Jones: There is no cost for a church to have a ministry banking consultant from Evangelical Christian Credit Union do a full banking assessment for their ministry. The scope of such analyses would vary from one financial institution to another. Few are likely to charge for this analysis. You are likely to pay a fee if you engage a business consultant for such an evaluation.

Newsbyte: Are there any closing words of wisdom you'd like to share?
Jones: Focus on the relationship with your banker over earning the best rate or getting that ‘free account.’ It’s vital that your banker knows you, knows your needs, and can provide the right solutions as your ministry grows and changes over time. Your hard work will pay dividends for your ministry both in today’s difficult environment and in good times.

www.eccu.org  |  www.joshuasprings.org