UPDATE on Partners:
Texas Office
New Dollars/New Partners
Final New Dollars training modules took place this past
June for several Galveston congregations that Partners has
been helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Hosted by
Congregation Beth Jacob and taught by Sarah Peveler and
Tuomi Forrest, the final two evenings focused on community
partnerships, funding sources, and collaboration. We hope
to continue to partner with these congregations as they carry
on the work of restoring and rebuilding their congregations,
while re-engaging the community.
Four of the Galveston congregations – First Presbyterian,
Grace Episcopal, Reedy Chapel AME, and Trinity Episcopal
– were featured in the fall issue of Texas Architect magazine,
a bimonthly publication of the Texas Society of Architects.
Written by Houston architect and New Dollars team member
Mort Levy, AIA, the article tells the story of these four
churches, all of which survived Hurricane Ike.
Texas Sacred Places Project
Since the launch of the Texas Office, Partners has been
laying the foundation of the Texas Sacred Places Project
(TSPP). Guided by a steering committee of historians,
preservationists, architects, academics, and clergy –
including the Texas Historical Commission – the project
will document sacred places that represent Texas’ religious
heritage, and then create an online interactive database and
website.
Texas Advisory Board Members
James R. Nader, FAIA, Chair
Robert G. Adams, AIA
Susan Alanis
Kenneth Barr
Richard H. Bundy, AIA
Daniel G. Carey
Louise B. Carvey
Judith S. Cohen
Gerald Davis
Robert I. Fernandez
Glenn S. Forbes
Donald Gatzke, AIA
Krista Gebbia
Marty Leonard
Robert F. Pence, PE
Elaine Petrus
Barry Silverberg
The Rev. Brenda W. Weir
Dr. Gaynor Yancey
Ex Officio
Fernando Costa
William J. Thornton, Jr.
We welcome new intern Andrew McDonald, a senior at
Texas Christian University double majoring in History and
Political Science, with a minor in Religion. Andrew’s help
and support gives the Texas Office an opportunity to increase
Partners’ outreach and presence in the region.
Where Are They Now?
Grace United Methodist Church in Fort Worth is a 2006
graduate of the New Dollars program. Grace came to training
with its 1942 building in a state of decline, a small, aging
membership, and modest outreach programs. Due to
its diminishing membership, the church was struggling
financially and could no longer maintain its building.
Grace’s neighborhood demographics had changed
dramatically over the last decade, forcing the small
congregation to take a hard look at reinventing itself in order
to remain viable.
The pilot survey, led by Texas Tech University Professor Gary
Smith, resulted in the documentation of more
than 400 sacred places in sixteen counties of West
Texas. (See the full story of this survey effort in
the Fall 2009 issue of Sacred Places.)
Currently, Partners is working with several Texas
universities on additional survey projects, and
a request-for-proposals was announced for the
2010-2011 academic year. If selected, students
of architecture, architectural history, historic
preservation, and other related fields would
conduct surveys in the field as part of their course
of study.
Staff Changes
Suzanne Yowell, Project Manager for the Texas
Office, is managing all phases of program
implementation. She has been visiting New
Dollars graduates to get updates on their status,
provide technical assistance as needed, and
document their progress.
Grace UMC in Fort Worth, TX, is a 2006 graduate of New Dollars/New
Partners.
Sacred Places • Fall 2010 • 10