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History |
The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington Mission House The Offices of |  |
Upon his election as Sixth Bishop of Lexington, Stacy Sauls found that action needed to be taken for the diocesan offices. Christ Church Cathedral, site of diocesan headquarters for years, was in the midst of a building campaign to expand its ministries. This expansion would eventually overtake the space set aside for the diocesan offices.
With the help of the Executive Council and a special committee, Bishop Sauls looked at countless options: rent commercial space, find room at another church, or buy property?
The property at Fourth and Martin Luther King became available, and the committee looked carefully. Was it structurally sound? Yes. Was it in a good location? Close to downtown, but close to communities we needed to reach. Could we afford it? Creatively, yes.
The Seminary Fund is held in trust by the Diocese for a future seminary, or for other uses after 2010. During a time of volatile investment markets, it seemed prudent to the Bishop as Trustee to invest the Seminary Fund in a mortgage loan to the Diocese. This has the effect of providing stability for the Fund, a home for the Diocese, and a valuable asset for our future. It also means that pledges from churches are not being used for the house, except for monthly interest payments in lieu of office rent.
Approved for purchase in early 2002, the house was carefully renovated by Lox Construction under the watchful eye of Andrew Piaskowy, an architect and parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church, Covington, along with the Renovation Committee.
Besides the necessary office space, Mission House is quickly becoming a hub of diocesan activity. On the first floor, two large meeting spaces are available, along with an education resource center. The Chapel of St. Laurence will be used for worship and private prayer. A catering kitchen in the basement will support all these activities. And we hope to have other ministries operating on the third floor before long…
