Work continues on church
By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
GLOVERSVILLE - The Rev. Wayne E. Jones Sr. has heard rumors about Foothills United Methodist Church stopping construction on its new church at South Kingsboro Avenue and Route 30A because of a shortage of money.
Speaking sarcastically, the senior pastor at Foothills said he just loves the rumor mill.
"The bottom line is our finances are in order," Jones said Monday.
Construction of the more than 31,850-square-foot building, estimated to cost $5 million, began less than a year ago and is ongoing. Jones said the church may open by Christmas Eve.
The church has put more than $1 million of its own money into the project.
In March, the church announced it was raising money for construction by giving people the chance to put a name on parts of building.
So far, about $300,000 has been raised from the naming opportunities, he said.
The church had planned to accept private loans, but decided against that idea because the church's financial situation was better than expected, Jones said.
The value of the church's land increased because of the expected construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter across Route 30A, he said.
Further fundraising is planned, he said. Fundraising dinners will be held and a festival is scheduled for September.
Construction began less than a year ago, but it stopped temporarily because the church changed the design of the building, Jones said. Contractors also had to wait for materials, he said.
The contractors say they can finish in time for a Christmas Eve opening. If not, Jones said the church should open in the spring.
The plans for the church were formed more than eight years ago.
The church now is located on Fremont Street.
The new church building will include a sanctuary, offices, a choir room and classrooms. Other parts of the 16-acre site will include a community garden, a picnic area, a sports field and an outdoor amphitheater, according to the church.
Anyone who wants more information about the naming opportunities may contact the church office at 725-9611.
Rodney Minor covers Gloversville. He can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.
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IKnooow
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07-18-08 10:42 AM
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What different does it make if they are out of cash? Whose business is it anyway? It's not like any church is rolling in liquid assets.
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ADKWOLF
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07-18-08 8:38 AM
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MountainMan it dose not make a dff to me if thay have the cash or not i get payed regardless .I was just telling it like it is...
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Eliz68
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07-16-08 9:52 AM
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Reading the comments I know why G'ville/J'town have problems. Not many of you seem to have faith. I have been close to this operation since the mergers and FOOTHILLS WILL RISE. The city has guidelines which have to be met and we do have money. Rumors and gossip are a bad thing. God has been working with us from the beginning. Opening day, please come and pray with us. You may be surprised how prayer can help and guide you the right way with right thoughts. Don't live in a tunnel. Keep moving, there is an opening at the other end of that tunnel.
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IKnooow
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07-16-08 9:31 AM
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I wondered where the story was born. Was it a reporter asking why the construction is taking so long, or did the church contact the paper looking to stall rumors they were out of money? I can believe that. Part of the reason for the past mergers, and ultimately what led to the plans for a new building, was the fact that the separate congregations couldn't make ends meet. As an unified group they had a better chance. Of course there could be a very good discussion about proper stewardship of the funds they have, and a little better perspective on what they need in a building. Of course, this isn't going to be a "Taj Mahal" as someone said. All construction is ridiculously expensive.
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MountainMan
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07-16-08 12:14 AM
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Wolf, are you all bent out of shape because you can't squeeze more $$$ out of a local church? Sheesh. All of this leads to one conclusion: If your local company doesn't get a big cut of the contract, you're options are to (1) spread rumors, and (2) moan and complain. Get a life. What exactly are you trying to prove with your comments? Attacking a noble organization does not progress a community, it degrades it.
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ADKWOLF
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07-15-08 11:12 PM
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(church members wanted last-minute design changes.) NOT AT ALL TRUE I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT IS DOING WORK THARE /// THAY ARE OUT OF CASH $$$ ///
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MountainMan
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07-15-08 10:30 PM
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The comments on this news story are truly sad. To have the gull to attack any organization that does good for the community speaks of low (actually, very low) moral character. It's no wonder that volunteerism is down locally with all of the do-nothing, constantly whining armchair critics. Get a life. BTW, is this even news? Construction stalled because church members wanted last-minute design changes. This happens all the time.
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Adirondack1965
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07-15-08 8:20 PM
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Isn't interesting that the article mentioned that the value of the land increased because of the new Walmart "Super"center that is planned to be built. Well, that land would have been better served to the taxpayers if a business bought the land, or just leave it vacant. Now that property is off the tax rolls and there will be TWO empty church building that will be left to rot. Like many vacant churches in the area. We will all have to pay for the loss of taxes on that property. At a time when many people in Gloversville is counting pennies to make ends meet. Doesn't sound very christian to me.
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Hoopoe
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07-15-08 7:03 PM
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In a time when people are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet, pay their takes, gas, oil, and groceries, to have all of this unnecessary spending to create a "Taj Mahal" church at a cost of $5,000,000 is hard to fathom. The Methodist's really need to establish some reasonable priorities with their finances.
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Alexander
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07-15-08 4:41 PM
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The church is being built on property obtained Ilegaly,The property is still owned by its July 1964 owner per A federal court order.There are many other propertys owned by the same owner which are being ilgegaly obtained and built on,All perpatrated by fulton countys crimianal empire.
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NewGloveRes
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07-15-08 3:12 PM
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Ernie9, it is my business because I know people who contribute to that church and we have to look at a vacant construction site. I know contractors working on the job so I know the materials issue is bogus. Obviously the Rev. feels he needs to address the issues. Also, they are going to community members for money and I would like to see their money going to the right place. I want to see the building finished, not looking like a empty gutted piece of land.
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LoyalSocialist
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07-15-08 2:04 PM
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Not only Saratoga, look at Hudson! That was a crime ridden area after the mills and such left, very similar to Gloversville. They have turned it around into a beautiful and cultured downtown.
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 1:44 PM
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I hate to say it, but G'ville needs some really great creative vision and alot of hard work to remake the downtown into a place where people want to go. I give credit to those that try. Saratoga's downtown was in bad shape in the early 70s. Look at it now. It'll take a ton of work and money to make downtown a destination again. But it could be done.
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LoyalSocialist
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07-15-08 1:21 PM
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No we want them to drive downtown and shop there. Then they could walk to all the businesses.
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 1:11 PM
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We could sell Civic Hybrids so people could afford to drive to Wal-Mart
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LoyalSocialist
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07-15-08 1:04 PM
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Honda Dealership?
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 12:58 PM
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I don't know what's up with the old Fashion Tanning building, but THAT is the prime business location to take advantage of the Wal_mart deal. Let's buy it and develop that into something.
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 12:56 PM
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I would agree with you if the land was city-owned and the cities had anything to say about it. But it was private land sold in a private deal, and they are free to build where they want. Zoning wasn't an issue there. The church owned that land long before anyone ever heard about WalMart's idea for that area. Other than the design being more modern and less traditional than I would like, I'm happy to see a church there. And being there, I don't think anyone associated with it will ever say it's a "Christians only" place. That's completely opposite what any Christian should believe.
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LoyalSocialist
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07-15-08 12:51 PM
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With wal-mart coming in there, it would be a place where some sort of business would have been able to build. I just think that there are enough churches around here and by putting them on a main highway, it makes this area look more like a "christians only" place.
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 12:47 PM
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I could say the same thing about any number of business around town. Just because I don't use their services doesn't mean they aren't contributing to the community. Churches get tax-exempt staus because they are considered an asset to communities.
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LoyalSocialist
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07-15-08 12:42 PM
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Not if you don't follow christianity
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 12:41 PM
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the land the church is being built on sat empty for several years. No businesses were falling all over themselves to build there. And a church is for the entire community.
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IKnooow
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07-15-08 12:39 PM
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The deal on the church is this: the new church is the end result of a couple of mergers of the Methodist churches in Johnstown and Gloversville. It made sense to consolidate congregations instead of paying for the upkeep of several old buildings. The Methodist church in J'town (next to the post office) was sold, as was the one in G'ville on Bleeker St. One of the conditions attached to the merger agreements was the construction of a new, centrally located, energy-efficient church building. And ta-da, one is slowly being built.
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LoyalSocialist
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07-15-08 12:36 PM
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I just think its like having another waste of good land that could be used for a business or something that will include the entire community.
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Ernie9
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07-15-08 12:29 PM
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I have a question. Why is anyone questioning the motives or reason for the length of time or the amount of money involved? It is not publicly funded, and if it is not your church why are you commenting? NewGloveRes says it sounds fishy. I say mind your own business. LoyalSocialist asks, why another church? Why do you care? If you are a socialist you probably don't belong to a church anyway.
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