After the pastor and his family made the decision to buy their own home earlier this year, the congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor of selling the manse property at 414 Charlotte Ave. in Carolina Beach. The session appointed a four-person team to oversee the sale: Chris Eason, Jack Newton, Harry Slusser and Cindy Snead.

After very little time, a buyer came forward, offers were negotiated, and a sale price of $225,000 was agreed upon for the apprximately 1900-square-foot residence. Because no agent was used, no commission would be subtracted from that amount. An inspection showed that certain conditions needed to be improved before the sale could be completed, and the church's team, consulting with the session, agreed to provide a $7500 refund and allow the buyers to complete those renovations themselves after the sale. (The terms of the agreement make it clear that the church is no longer responsible for anything having to do with that property.)

On Friday, August 27, the sale was closed, and on Monday the church received a check which was immediately deposited to the Capital Fund.

The church has had this property for about thirty years. Most recently it was happily occupied by the current pastor and his family for the past four years, but it played an even more important role. In 2000, before the new pastor's arrival, the late Denny Murray (then chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee) assembled a team of 40 volunteers from the church, who, through their hard work together, forged deep bonds of friendship and comeraderie. Their sense of unity and shared purpose helped to strengthen the whole body of the church.

This was not the first time selling the manse had been considered. Selling already had strong support from those who had earlier been charged with overseeing the rental and upkeep of the property. The current confluence of events, however--with the current pastor moving out, capital funds needed to pay for the property extension, and an excellent market for home sales in Carolina Beach--suggested to many that selling now would fit God's plan for our church and its mission. The church and session are grateful to those who for over three decades cared for the manse and its property, and to the team who oversaw the sale.