University Christian Church Facility Use Policy

Adopted on August 16, 2004

Revised September 11, 2006

Goal Statement:

University Christian Church (UCC) of Manhattan, Kansas encourages the use of the church property and buildings for the purpose of achieving the following goals:

1. Provision of sufficient, adequate, safe and secure indoor and outdoor facilities for the purpose of Christian worship, study and fellowship.
2. Provision, to the fullest degree possible, of access to facilities by members for other appropriate activities.
3. Provision of facility access to other non-church groups and people as a service to the community to the fullest degree possible without causing conflict with goal 1 activities and to serve as an outreach method to increase familiarity of non-churched individuals with UCC.

General Policy Statement:

UCC encourages the use of UCC property and facilities for meetings and other special events, however, these additional uses cannot conflict with or impair any of the normal UCC church activities, such as Saturday evening and Sunday morning and evening worship services and Sunday school classes, in addition to any special services or programs.  Access to facilities by UCC members for church/Bible related study, worship or outreach programs is also encouraged.  In addition, church and non-church individuals can obtain access to building facilities for meetings and group activities for service groups, youth organizations, and other specialty groups, as long as the groups goals are consistent with Christian values and the group respects church property and rules.

Events should be scheduled according to the use guidelines as described here within.  In general, the scheduling of facilities is done on a first-come-first-serve basis after UCC services, classes and other regular or special church-sponsored events. Regular and special UCC activities should be placed on the church calendar as far in advance as practical but at least thirty days in advance to allow the orderly scheduling of non-church events. The Sanctuary, Family Life Center and Fellowship Hall, in particular, need to be scheduled in advance to allow arrangement of sound and custodial service, since classrooms may not be an appropriate substitute option for the event. It is understood that some events, such as funerals, will have to be scheduled on short notice. The UCC church family is defined in this policy as those that regularly attend UCC.

General Use Policies:

1. All events require scheduling through the church office and require completion of a Facility Use Request Form. Non-UCC sponsored events also require approval. Approval for non-UCC sponsored events will be in the form of a signed copy of the user request form.
2. No alcohol or tobacco use is permitted on church property.
3. The removal of tables, chairs or other equipment from church property is not permitted, with the exception of the older brown tables stored in the Fellowship Hall and the metal folding chairs stored in the Educational Building utility room and storage shed. The white lightweight tables in the Fellowship Hall or educational classrooms should not be removed from the building. Before removal of any tables or chairs from the building, contact the church office for scheduled church activities that might require the use of the tables and fill out the check-out form. Chairs and tables from the Family Life Center are not to be removed from the building.
4. Users of UCC facilities for weddings and receptions (including educational and FLC kitchens) are covered specifically in "Policies for Weddings and Receptions."
5. Damage to the property is the responsibility of the individual signing the Facility Use form.
6. UCC cannot be responsible for individuals' property lost, stolen, or damaged while at UCC.
7. All trash containers should be emptied after any events where food has been deposited in the container.
8. Any furniture moved or set-up for the event should be returned to its original position or to the appropriate storage area.
9. Adequate supervision should be provided for all events held at UCC. No one should enter rooms that are not reserved for the event.
10. Adult Sunday school classrooms should be scheduled before children’s classrooms. Children's Sunday school classroom supplies should not be used by individuals reserving the room for other events.
11. No commercial (for profit) events shall be scheduled.
12. Payment of any required fee and/or deposit must be submitted with the completed “Use Request” form before the event can be scheduled. The deposit will be returned within 10 regular working weekdays upon return of the key and review of the meeting room.
13. The Building and Grounds Committee must approve any and all exceptions to this policy.
14. This policy is to be reviewed annually by the UCC Board of Elders.  The Building and Grounds Committee is to make any procedural modifications.

After each event, fill out a UCC building checklist, found in each of the buildings and in the church office.  Leave in the holder or drop off at the church office.

Fees and building-specific guidelines found at links below. 

  Download Facility Use Forms below.  Please print off, fill out, and mail to or drop off at the office.

• Facility Use Request Form July-December 2008
• Facility Use Request Form January-June 2009
• Wedding/Reception Facility Use Form
• Table and Chairs Use Form
• Printable Facilities Map
• Printable Facility Use Policy