Skyland United Methodist Church
Town Hall Meeting Handout
May 3, 2026
Recent Facilities Updates
Our facilities team has completed several meaningful improvements to the church campus over the past year. Please stop by and see the photos of these improvements in the colonnade.
Exterior & Grounds
- Removed overgrown shrubbery on the north and west sides of the sanctuary — restoring building access and eliminating invasive Kudzu.
- Repaired and repainted the north gable and west face of the sanctuary.
- Restored the cross on the original monument sign.
- Installed contrasting carpet on the slope outside the sanctuary doors to improve visibility and reduce tripping hazards.
Interior Improvements
- Replaced carpet in the music room.
- Refreshed the Prayer Room and Kid’s Room with new furniture, accessories, and paint.
Building Systems
- Replaced the outdated fire alarm panel with modern technology capable of supporting 4x more devices.
- Installed Wi-Fi-accessible thermostats for remote, centralized climate control across the buildings.
Capital Campaign & Future Facility Improvements
Funding the RTU replacement will draw down reserves we value. To replenish those accounts and invest in further improvements, we are planning a congregational giving campaign tentatively running mid-May through July 2026.
Campaign will support:
- Replenishment of reserves used for the RTU project
- Space refreshes and interior updates to better serve our congregation and ministries
- Additional capital renewal and replacement needs as identified by the Facilities Committee
Details and giving materials will be shared following Board approval in May. If you are interested in contributing or learning more, please speak with a member of the Finance or Trustees Working Teams.
Rooftop HVAC Unit (RTU) Replacement and Future Improvements
The rooftop HVAC units have outlived their useful life and will be replaced due to the cost of maintaining these units, upgrading to more efficient units that will save money over the long term and to prevent an urgent replacement situation. The BOS have approved replacing the RTUs over the summer for the least amount of disruption to the use of the building as these units must be replaced by crane.
Funding the RTU replacement will draw down reserves in our accounts; therefore, to replenish those accounts and invest in further improvements, we are planning a congregational giving campaign tentatively running mid-May through July 2026.
Giving campaign will support:
- Replenishment of reserves used for the RTU project
- Potential for additional space refreshes and interior updates to better serve our congregation and ministries
- Additional capital renewal and replacement needs as identified by the Board of Stewards (BOS)
Details and giving materials will be discussed and shared following Board approval in May. If you are interested in contributing or learning more, please attend the BOS meeting on May 12th or speak with a member of the Finance or Trustees Working Teams.
Skyland UMC runs on the dedication of over 50 Ministry Teams. Last year, leaders across each ministry completed a Ministry Action Plan — documenting their mission, strategies, needs, and values.
A few of our ministry teams include: Musicians & Singers, CHOW, College Students, Keep in Touch, Habitat, Prayer Team, Ushers, Safety Team, Loving Care, and Welcome Desk.
These ministries build friendships and reflect Christ’s love in action. There are both short- and longer-term opportunities to serve — we need you!
To learn how to get involved, contact:
- Celeste Tolbert —
- Dessa Boynton —
- Patty Olbrantz —
Thank you for being part of our Skyland UMC community. Together, we serve!
