On Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 4pm in the Sanctuary there will be a church-wide meeting (a Church Conference) for HUMC members to vote on a recommendation made by the Trustees Committee and affirmed by the Church Council to sell the residence (parsonage) located at 5714 Whispering Oak Blvd.

Before the vote, members can ask questions, review the reasons for the recommendation, and understand how the proposed sale supports the church’s mission and long-term financial stewardship.

SPPRC has prepared this FAQ document (printed copies available at church).

FAQ: Proposal to sell the Whispering Oak Parsonage

The Trustees Committee has proposed that we sell the property at 5714 Whispering Oak (one of our two parsonages). Church Council voted in favor on June 30, and all members of the church are invited to vote on this issue at an all-church conference on Sunday, July 19, at 4pm in the Sanctuary. (Only members of HUMC are allowed to vote.) SPPRC has prepared this FAQ document for your review (print copies available at church) and are available to answer your questions.

On the Wisdom of Churches Not Maintaining Parsonages

Across many denominations — including the United Methodist Church — congregations have been re‑evaluating the long‑standing practice of owning a parsonage. What once served as a gift to clergy and a stabilizing asset for churches has, in today’s context, become increasingly complex. There is wisdom in recognizing when a tradition no longer serves the mission as well as it once did.

Several realities shape this shift:

• Pastoral stability and equity
  When pastors own their own homes, they build equity and long‑term financial security — something parsonages, by design, prevent. Allowing clergy to choose their own housing supports healthier transitions and more sustainable pastoral lives.
• Clearer boundaries and healthier relationships
  A parsonage can blur the lines between a pastor’s personal life and the congregation’s expectations. When clergy live in their own homes, they have more privacy, autonomy, and the ability to create a true sanctuary for themselves and their families.
• Reduced financial and maintenance burdens for the church
  Parsonages require ongoing upkeep, capital improvements, and emergency repairs. These costs can be unpredictable and can divert resources from ministry, mission, and staff support.
• Flexibility for the church’s future
  Without the obligation of maintaining a parsonage, churches can adapt more easily to changing pastoral needs, appointment patterns, and financial realities. It frees the congregation to invest in ministries that directly serve the community.

Choosing not to maintain a parsonage is not a loss of hospitality — it is a shift toward healthier, more sustainable pastoral care and congregational stewardship.

Why Selling the Whispering Oak Property is a Faithful and Strategic Decision

The decision to sell the Whispering Oak property is rooted in the same kind of wisdom: a desire to steward resources faithfully, reduce unnecessary burdens, and align the church’s assets with its mission.

Here are the core reasons that can be communicated clearly and confidently:

• The property no longer serves the church’s current or future needs
  Whispering Oak was once acquired with a particular vision in mind. That vision has changed. Holding property that is not actively used for ministry ties up resources that could be invested in the church’s actual mission.
• Maintenance and liability costs outweigh the benefits
  Even unused property requires insurance, upkeep, and oversight. These ongoing costs drain energy and finances that could be redirected toward worship, outreach, staff support, and community partnerships.
• Selling the property strengthens the church’s long‑term stability
  The proceeds from the sale can be used to:
  • strengthen reserves
  • support pastoral housing allowances
  • invest in ministries that directly impact people’s lives
  • reduce financial pressure on the operating budget

In other words, selling Whispering Oak turns a dormant asset into active ministry.

• It reflects responsible, transparent stewardship
  Churches thrive when they make decisions that are honest about current realities and hopeful about future possibilities. Letting go of property that no longer aligns with the mission is an act of courage and clarity.
• It helps the congregation focus on what truly matters
  Buildings and land can be blessings, but they can also become distractions. By releasing Whispering Oak, the church is choosing to invest in people, relationships, and ministries that embody the gospel in real time.

In closing, as a congregation, we are choosing stewardship over sentiment, mission over maintenance, and clarity over complication.

By no longer maintaining this parsonage and by selling the Whispering Oak property, we are freeing ourselves to invest in the ministries that bring healing, hope, and connection to our community. These decisions honor our past while strengthening our future, ensuring that our resources serve the gospel rather than the other way around.

All-Church Decision

This will be an all-church decision, voted on by members at a church conference to be held Sunday, July 19, at 4pm in the Sanctuary.