Members of Congregation Beth Shalom have voted to shut down its Wornall facility. When the building closes all operations and activities will take place at the Lamar facility located at 14200 Lamar.
Beth Shalom President Kurt Kavanaugh, DDS, reported that at a meeting in mid-November more than 600 votes were cast, overwhelmingly supporting by a 5 to 1 margin the board of director’s recommendation to close the facility at the earliest practical date. The Lamar facility, which currently houses the congregation’s administrative offices, Sisterhood Gift Shop and school, opened in December 2005 and was officially dedicated March 26, 2006. The Wornall facility, located at 95th and Wornall, was used almost exclusively for worship. Both weekday minyan and Shabbat services, as well as weddings, are held there.
Land for the Wornall facility, which sits on approximately 45 acres at the corner of Wornall and Bannister roads, was purchased in 1955. The school opened in 1962 and the sanctuary wing, which included the chapel, social hall, administrative offices and library, was dedicated in 1971.
Dr. Kavanaugh said that two committees — ritual and buildings and grounds — are now working out the logistics of closing the facility. An exact date has not yet been set but it should be sometime between April 1 and July 15, 2011.
The ritual committee is also being charged with the task of figuring out how the congregation will handle the High Holy Days and large simchas such as weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. There is no sanctuary or chapel at the Lamar location; however, Goldsmith Hall can hold 350 people. The location for minyan services will also be determined by the ritual committee.
Dr. Kavanaugh pointed out that while the Lamar location will be the only one for Beth Shalom in the near future, it may not be the congregation’s final destination.
"A Long-Range Planning Task Force is addressing plans for the future needs of the congregation, including but not limited to, appropriate facilities in the future. That may or may not mean Lamar," he said.
Reducing the deficit
Dr. Kavanaugh explained that the board’s recommendation to completely close the Wornall campus was based on the fact that it was just too expensive to operate two facilities.
"The decision was based on the need to reduce our operating deficit," Dr. Kavanaugh said.
In a letter to members prior to the vote, Dr. Kavanaugh explained that this recommendation is just one step in the congregation’s efforts to eliminate its budget deficit and operate the congregation on a sound fiscal basis.
"Closing Wornall will save approximately $100,000 per year in operating expenses. Those savings would increase to approximately $150,000 if it were sold. We still have to make significant changes in operating expenses and/or revenue to eliminate the remainder of our operating deficit," Dr. Kavanaugh said.
However, closing Wornall is not without cost. It is estimated that it could cost as much as $200,000 to close the Wornall facility. Pipes need to be drained and the facility needs to be winterized. In addition, all religious items need to be moved from Wornall to either Lamar or a storage facility.
An emotionally charged issue
Gary Cortés, chair of the Facilities Task Force, said Beth Shalom began exploring the issue of how to reduce its deficit in April. The committee included members of the board, general members and staff. They studied approximately 13 different options to develop a solution to the two facilities problem, explore a reduction of operating expenses and create a warmer, more caring community. The congregation is facing financial challenges, as are many other local congregations, due to the economy.
While not everyone saw eye-to-eye on the issue, Dr. Kavanaugh said people were cordial to each other’s views and listened attentively to what everyone had to say.
In fact Cortés said it was most important to him and the committee to make sure that everyone was kept abreast of the process and that anyone who had an opinion had the opportunity to express it.
"Everyone has their views and it’s important to respect them, work with them and see that they are included in the decision-making process," Cortés said.
