REVIVAL AT CALVARY (cont.)
from the community could participate as
a legitimate part of the redevelopment
process. Third, everyone realized that
the project, which had a secular purpose,
would have access to funders that would
not support a congregation directly.
Continued Support from Partners for
Sacred Places and Community Groups
Partners was intimately involved in the
intricate negotiations around forming the
non-profit Calvary Center and helped the
process in a variety of ways over the years.
For example, Partners contacted the buyer
of the domes in the hope that he would be
willing to let the church retain them. The
buyer was so inspired by the momentum to
restore the building that after agreeing to
rescind the purchase, he made a $60,000
grant to the church to begin repairs.
Summer camp students at Curio Theatre Company, one of several groups that now call Calvary
UMC home.
that public space for community activities
was scarce, and wanted to see space
developed for community activities. Many
felt that Calvary could serve this purpose.
Third, people felt that a local venue for
culture and the arts could spur commercial
development on Baltimore Avenue, a
handsome “Main Street” that had become
woefully dilapidated.
Forming a Supporting Non-profit
organization
Moving the congregation, which had
reluctantly concluded that it needed
to leave its building, to reconsider its
decision and partner with the community
was not easy, and much time was spent
in trying to reach consensus. In the end,
despite some defections, the congregation
made the decision not only to stay, but
also to redevelop the building to serve all
three goals defined in the focus groups:
a building that would support secular
community activities, a building that would
serve as a venue for the performing arts,
and a building that would remain a sacred
space.
The congregation, as owner of the building,
had interests it wanted to protect. On the
other hand, the community wanted to be
sure that its input was taken seriously and
have a sense of “ownership.” Neighbors
wanted to be included in the decisionmaking process and the decisions
themselves.
An independent non-profit organization
was a means to resolve these issues. A
compromise was reached in which the
church Trustees appointed a “majority
of one” to the board of directors. This
person would vote with the church if
any decision was seen as detrimental
to the church. Community residents
would make up the remaining members
of the board. Also, Calvary’s Trustees
were given power to veto any decision
that could not be legally supported by
the United Methodist Church. So, in
2000, a new non-profit organization was
formed: the Calvary Center for Culture
and Community (Calvary Center), whose
mission was to redevelop, repair and
restore the building.
The formation of the Calvary Center
was key for several reasons. First, the
congregation welcomed additional help
in raising money, managing a capital
campaign and making major repairs
to the building. Second, a separate and
independent organization would serve as
a vehicle in which non-church members
Sacred Places • www.sacredplaces.org • Summer 2009
Partners also included Calvary in its
pilot New Dollars/New Partners training
program, which bolstered Calvary’s
capital campaign, and provided advice,
labor, and even board members to work
on the project. When Partners launched
its Philadelphia Regional Fund for
Sacred Places in 2006, Calvary received
a $100,000 grant for building repairs.
Partners also provided two smaller grants
for special projects, and helped the Calvary
Center obtain major foundation support
for a variety of additional grants.
Several local organizations also helped to
ensure success. Notably, the University
City Historical Society (UCHS), which
was the first organization to understand
the strategic importance of the building,
provided the organizational umbrella for
the Friends of Calvary. The University of
Pennsylvania Law School helped Calvary
incorporate the Calvary Center, and
the Historic Preservation Department
at Penn’s Graduate School of Design
did a major study to determine what
the original interior looked like, to
guide the restoration effort. Later, the
University City District (UCD), a Business
Improvement District formed to improve
the quality of life and physical plant of
the community, soon partnered with the
Calvary Center, directing organizations
(continued on page 13)
to Calvary as possible tenants. UCD also
donated funds for exterior beautification