How many SQFT of space do they need? There are a number of places not in Manhattan that should be fine. Shoot, move across the river to Newark, NJ. If you really want to be bold, move down to Camden, NJ. The office space is dirt cheap and they could use the influx of positive vibes that the church would bring.

Both spots are easily accessible to both NYC and DC via train.

The most interesting point that hasn't come up in anything I've read is the finding by Cushman & Wakefield that real estate ownership and management is not a key competency of the national church.

I'm reminded of a conversation members of the Diocese of Maine's Committee on Indian Relations participated in in 2010 with leaders of Maine's five native tribes. One of those, the Penobscot Nation, is thriving because, in part, several years ago leaders approached Harvard Business School and offered to be a case study for how they could best run their businesses (started with money from 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act) and keep true to their commitment to care for their people - those alive now and future generations.

The Harvard people reported back that running businesses wasn't a key competency of the tribal leadership and they best hire MBAs to do the job. To the great credit of the Penobscot, they admitted that was possible and hired outside professionals who knew about SBA loans and the government bidding process. They encouraged some of their young people to go to UMaine to study business. They now have businesses that make military uniforms, supply helicopter parts, and other efforts I can't recall.

What are the key competencies of the Episcopal Church?

Whatever they are, that's where we should put our time, treasure, and sweat. Many dioceses, including ours, are trying to figure this out. Let the Task Force for Re-imagining The Episcopal Church do its work. Surely making recommendations about the nature and location of the Episcopal Church Center is a component of re-imagining the church.

Heidi Shott

Ann, this is an important issue. Thank you for helping keep everyone's feet to the fire.

Les Singleton

Heidi, your response to this is really powerful (and useful). Thanks for telling that story.

I'm curious: how much money would it take to relocate to [fill in the blank]? Who would decide upon a new location...and how? How many millions would Cushman & Wakefield make on selling the NYC "assets"? Since when do we care about following other denominations in this or any other regard?

David Decker-Drane
Evanston, Illinois

While they may be interesting side issues, this is NOT about square feet or core competencies. This is about the Executive Oversight Committee dismissing the will and desire of the Church. Remember the Church, represented by the people who were elected and sent to General Convention? We told our deputies that we wanted HQ to move from NYC. Our deputies voted to do just that. Now, since the Episcopal Politburo has decided that we were too stupid to know what was best for OUR church, they are going to veto us and overrule our decision.

Does any body have the list of the 15 possible cities for relocation?

I have no problem with relocating the Episcopal Church HQ out of New York City. I DO have a problem with selling the building.

Kurt Hill
Brooklyn, NY

This is about the Executive Oversight Committee dismissing the will and desire of the Church.

Tom Reeder, exactly. The EOC-knows-best attitude is the problem in this instance.

June Butler

Hrumph. I worked at 815 very briefly long ago. For those those don't know, it's a high rise on prime Manhattan real estate, on Second Ave. Turn it into condos and use the proceeds to maintain church buildings and pay professional choirs for every church in the country. Dismantle the bureaucracy--parishes can function quite well on their own, without kicking in a mission share to the diocese and having those funds wicked up to 815. Yeah, the Church talks all lefty when it comes to gay rights, third world debt, GM food crops. But not when 815 or its bureaucrat's jobs--or the Church Pension Fund are at stake. Oh, yeah: every grain of incense is bread from the mouths of the poor--let us turn our church buildings into soup kitchens. But 815 stays, so that the Church could be near the corridors of power--as if anyone in power were listening to a bunch of silly vicars. Get real.

I think Harriet has a good idea; let's turn 815 into condos, and use the funds generated for more important things! However, we should stop selling our properties. Land is finite, and who knows, 20 or 30 years from now, in a growing church, we may need these properties (and not just 815, either).

Kurt Hill
Brooklyn, NY