St. Luke's, Mobile, considering mission expansion
A letter from The Rev. Ken Cumbie
Rector, St. Luke's Episcopal Church
The Coastline July/August 2007
Mobile, AL
Note: The Bishop has been fully engaged in this exploratory and discernment process. The Standing Committee has also been fully engaged. Therefore, we believe that the following overview would be helpful for Episcopalians throughout the Diocese. The Rev. Ken Cumbie
Dear St. Luke's Episcopal Church and School Families, Faculty and Friends,
St. Luke's Episcopal School has been providing the children of the Mobile community with academic excellence for over forty-five years. St. Luke's strives to provide the best educational experience for 500 PK3 through 8th grade students in the area with a mission of challenging students through rigorous academic curriculum in an inclusive Christian environment. Although we are successfully accomplishing this mission, every St. Luke's family must make a decision on where to go for a high school education. This has led to an ongoing conversation about the possibility of expanding St. Luke's mission to include a high school. As a result of the confluence of a number of positive developments in the Mobile community, this appears to be the right time to formally consider such an expansion.
On May 17, the Vestry and the Board of Trustees endorsed a plan, presented by the Board Executive Committee, to initiate a formal exploration and discernment process regarding the establishment of an Upper School (9th through 12th grade). Because an Upper School expansion is not feasible on this campus, a preliminary review was made by the Executive Committee of several possible locations. The former J.T. Wright campus, owned by the University of South Alabama Foundation, located on University Boulevard, is believed to provide the best opportunity for success should this project move forward. With it's 32 acres and over 90,000 square feet of classroom, technology and fine arts space, an option to purch! ase this property has been secured to assure its availability during the discernment process. During this exploratory stage, significant financial and mission oriented support must be secured.
Over the past several weeks, the feedback received from parishioners, parents, faculty, and the Mobile community have been overwhelmingly supportive of an expansion of St. Luke's to include a high school. As Rector, member of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Mission Expansion, I ask for your prayers, your input, and your support as we discern God's will for St. Luke's Church and School.
The Rev. Ken Cumbie, Rector
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Mobile, Al.
251.666.2990
kcumbie3@aol.com
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