[Plymouth, Mich: March 1, 2008]
Bishop Wendell Gibbs raised the bar on the decision to move the administrative offices, staff and ministry resources of the Diocese of Michigan to a geographically central location when he met with Diocesan Council on March 1. Seven weeks earlier, Council listened to and discussed the bishop’s decision to relocate the administrative center of the diocese and, after a passionate closed-door session to discuss the proposal, gave its support for $1.5 million to finance new property.

Two significant clarifications were outlined at the March meeting. Principally, the bishop explained, despite the benefits to the diocese of a location to which more people would have access, any final decision will be made after a clear financial study is complete.

“A move of diocesan administrative offices is dependent upon two major criteria—that such move be financially advantageous to the diocesan financial picture and that such a move not have a deleterious financial effect on the Cathedral parish while providing opportunity for ministry that has a direct and positive impact on the local community and the city of Detroit,” Gibbs said.

He also clarified that the financial authorization by council applied only to the Plymouth property that was under consideration in January and subsequently deemed inappropriate for the needs of the diocese. A request for financial authorization for other property would have to return to Diocesan Council.

In the weeks since mid-January, discussion about the plan circulated around the diocese. The topic arose at two Miter Meetings and Gibbs met with the Detroit clergy on February 27 to discuss the decision. The Record interviewed the bishop on February 29 on the relocation plan and its impact on urban ministry.

At the March 1 Diocesan Council meeting, the bishop opened the session by reading two letters that were sent to council—both expressing concern about the decision to relocate.

Throughout the month, the bishop underscored his concern about how much money the present building costs both the diocese and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

The Cathedral pays about $250,000 a year while the Diocese of Michigan pays $164,000.

“Checking through historical documents,” Gibbs told Diocesan Council, the Diocesan Cathedral Center “was built with the expressed desire that the building not be a burden on the church of St. Paul’s. The interesting irony here is that whether the diocesan offices move or not, the building at 4800 Woodward is a burden on the cathedral parish of St. Paul’s. It is already serving exactly what it is not supposed to be."

The bishop underscored a commitment “to find a ministry partner for the Cathedral whose presence at 4800 will make much more difference than having the 12 people who work for the diocese there."

“Detroit may be the largest urban center that we have, but it is not the only one,” said Gibbs. “I have a great concern by the fact that when we talk about urban problems, we never mention Pontiac, we never mention Lansing, we never mention Jackson, we never mention Monroe, we never mention Adrian, we never mention Ann Arbor ... There’s a huge urban issue in Ann Arbor, but [it is less visible.]”

“Detroit may not be the only urban center, but it is the most troubled,” said Jonathan Sams, council clergy representative from the Oakland Deanery. “In the perception of most people, this [Detroit] is the place that is hurting the most.”

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Bishop Wendell Gibbs issued two pastoral letters in January that can be viewed here. The first on January 15 explained his decision to relocate and identified a building in Plymouth. The second letter on January 18 explained that the Plymouth building would not meet the needs of the diocese and the search for a new location would continue.