This page documents the process St. Martin’s has followed to evaluate the campus and explore how it can best support ministry for years to come. It is intended to keep the congregation informed as work progresses.
Please check this page regularly for updates.
A Timeline
March 18, 2024 – June 2025
Vestry Forms Capital Needs Discernment Task Force
On March 18, 2024, the Vestry established a Capital Needs Discernment Task Force to consider how St. Martin’s campus could best support the parish’s mission and ministries into the future. The task force consisted of Beth Capell, Jim Jordan, Elise Keddie, Tony Miller, Neil Willits, Gabe Avila, and the Rev. Pamela Dolan. Meeting regularly from September 2024 through June 2025, the group followed a structured discernment process that included conversations with parish ministry leaders, staff, community partners, and organizations that use the campus. These discussions focused on understanding current and future ministry needs, evaluating how the campus is currently used, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Through this process, the task force identified three priorities:
- supporting current ministries, including worship and formation;
- improving climate resiliency and sustainability; and
- enhancing welcome and hospitality, both within the parish and for the wider community.
These priorities closely align with the ministry priorities previously identified by the Vestry. While the Task Force also explored ideas such as building affordable housing on campus and the concept of social enterprises such as onsite thrift stores and cafes, it concluded that those initiatives should not be pursued at this time.
June 15, 2025
Vestry receives Advice on Capital Projects
The Vestry met with the Rev. Dr. Stephen Hassett, interim rector of Ascension Church in Vallejo and formerly on staff at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, who shared what he had learned from capital projects he had been involved with.
August 20, 2025
Capital Needs Discernment Task Force Provides Report to Vestry
The Capital Needs Discernment Task Force presented its final report to the Vestry. In addition to presenting the three priorities, the report outlined potential capital improvements that could support those priorities. Rather than recommending immediate projects, the Task Force recommended three next steps: “1) Retain a professional building inspector to inspect our physical assets and review maintenance plans; 2) Conduct a carbon neutrality evaluation using an external expert; and 3) Hire a professional to design space use options for indoor and outdoor areas.” The Vestry approved moving forward with the building inspection and energy evaluation first, emphasizing that these activities were exploratory and did not commit the parish to a capital campaign.
Capital Needs Discernment Committee Report
September 17, 2025
Campus Building Inspection Conducted
On September 17, 2025, a building inspection was conducted by All Points Inspection Service. The report was provided to Church Operations Director, Gabe Avila, who gave an update to the Vestry at the meeting later that day. The inspector’s overall findings note, “The buildings on the property are primarily in excellent condition. Likely due to diligent maintenance practices.” It noted some minimal repairs that were recommended. As of January 2026, all of the recommendations have either been completed or are in progress.
October-November 2025
Proposal to Hire an Architect/Designer
Following the positive results of the building inspection, Senior Warden Maria Acuna-Feldman and Treasurer Jessie Ann Owens met via Zoom with architect Mark Howland to discuss approaches to campus visioning. Howland, a lifelong Episcopalian with extensive experience working with churches and nonprofit organizations, shared advice on planning processes and provided examples of planning documents.
Maria then formed a small work group consisting of Jim Jordan, Beth Capell, Jessie Ann Owens, Tony Miller, and herself to develop a recommendation for the Executive Committee and Vestry. The group collaborated with Howland to synthesize the findings of the Capital Needs Discernment Task Force and the building inspection into a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis.
The SWOT analysis recognized the many strengths of St. Martin’s campus while identifying opportunities to better align the site’s facilities with the parish’s current ministries and priorities. The analysis affirmed the previously identified priorities and concluded that the next appropriate step was to engage a design professional.
Based on the SWOT analysis and the information gathered through the parish’s discernment process, the work group recommended that the Vestry engage an architectural consultant to prepare exploratory schematic designs and conceptual renderings illustrating options for improving the campus in support of the parish’s ministries.
December 17, 2025
Architect/Designer Selection Process Submitted
The work group submitted the Architect Selection Process to the Vestry for approval.
This step should be understood as exploratory, information-gathering, and obtaining professional expertise to envision available options. There is no commitment to proceed either with capital projects or with a campaign. The Vestry voted to accept the Architect Selection Process and discussed possible nominees for the Architect Selection Team. The decision on team membership rested with the rector and senior warden.
Architect Selection Process document
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January 25, 2026
Update on Campus Visioning Provided to the Parish
An article in the second issue of the parish magazine, Reflections, shared with the parish a comprehensive update with the parish on the ongoing process.
Link to article in Reflections
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January 27, 2026
Energy Audit Conducted
On January 27, 2026, the parish underwent an Energy Audit by Colby May with Energy for Purpose. The report was received on February 26, 2026. The report states, “St. Martin’s has already achieved what many churches aspire to: net-zero electricity. The opportunity now is refinement — tightening operations, reducing remaining gas usage, improving controls, and building resilience capacity. These measures position the church not only as energy efficient, but as a regional leader in Creation Care and community preparedness.”
March-July 2026
Following the Vestry-approved Architect Selection Process, the Architect Selection Team sought recommendations from local churches and researched architects with experience serving faith communities. After identifying a list of prospective firms, the team sought out interested firms and ultimately requested proposals from qualified candidates.
The team provided an update to the parish in the 3rd issue of the parish magazine, Reflections.
The team subsequently received a proposal from and recommended engaging architect Eric Doud. The Vestry approved hiring Mr. Doud to begin the conceptual design process. This process includes providing the parish with three tiers of design, 1) low investment/immediate improvements, 2) moderate investment/strategic enhancements, and 3) major investments/long term vision. Mr. Doud is familiar with the parish, having worked on a 2009 conceptual design which ultimately led to the construction of the narthex, adjacent overhang, and various other site improvements. He has been in practice for 35 years. His biography notes, “Throughout his work a respect for the natural setting is a common value. This is crafted into form by the use of natural materials, response to the seasonal variations and a recognition of the underlying sacred structure of form. His interests include how the built form can inform, from our daily rituals at a personal scale to communal religious structures.”
Architect Selection Team report
Link to article in Reflections
August 2026
The Architect Advisory Team was appointed to serve as the liaison between Eric Doud and the parish. The next steps in this process will be ably led by Jessie Ann Owens and others on the Architect Advisory Team, including Bob Holm, Neil Willits, and the Rev. Ernie Lewis. Further staff support will come from Gabe Avila and Rev. Pamela Dolan, as needed.
Current
The Architect Advisory Team invites the parish to an all parish discussion on September 20, 2026 for our Kick Off Sunday. Brunch will be provided.
During the conceptual design phase, the architect will work with a parish planning committee to explore possibilities for the future use of the campus based on the priorities previously identified by the parish and Vestry. This work will focus on developing concepts, evaluating options, and helping the congregation visualize what is possible. The outcome of this phase will be a set of conceptual designs that the congregation can use to inform future discernment and decision-making. This process does not commit the parish to any construction project or capital campaign. Rather, it is intended to provide the information needed for thoughtful discernment about future opportunities.
As the conceptual design process begins, information will be shared with the congregation to encourage conversation, feedback, and continued discernment about the future of St. Martin’s campus.
