Facilities Use Policy and Agreements
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW FACILITIES USE POLICY
INCLUDING ALCOHOL USE GUIDELINES
As HCC adjusts to our new building, we are working out ways to share our facility with the community. During the visioning, design and construction phases of the project, we committed ourselves to making our new facility available to others for use. As such, the Executive Council formed a task force to put together a new “Facilities Use Policy”.
This task force worked throughout the winter to determine what would be the best practices for our church. We researched other comparable facilities in the area, (churches, community centers, etc.). We also discussed and discerned what we felt would be a good working set of policies for HCC’s needs and desires to share, but protect, our updated church.
The new documents outlining the proposed policies have been recommended by the task force, (Todd Anderson, Kathi Blair, Lynn Mayo, John Pint, Barbara McGovern, Kurt Nilsen, Rev. Pete Allen, Sara Holland, and Wil Exantus). The policy has also been approved by the Board of Trustees and is currently in the review process with Executive Council.
Of note, we’d like to bring your attention to a new alcohol policy that we are recommending. In preparation for the Annual Meeting on May 20th, we’d like to make sure the congregation is aware of what we are proposing.
In the past, our previous Facility Use Policy prohibited the use of alcohol on the church property. This was not a church by-law, only a policy written many years ago. However, we acknowledge the significance of this change, and believe it important for all church members to have an opportunity to review and vote on the change. The Hale Fellowship Hall is now a room that can accommodate many different types of functions, unlike our old fellowship hall. In order to present this option for fundraisers, small wedding receptions, or even HCC social events, we determined it advisable to allow alcohol to be served. All events would have to go through the process of being approved by the Board of Trustees, which is committed to the safety and well-being of the church, our facilities and most of all our church members.
In the course of our discernment we settled on the following policy:
- The sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. However, alcoholic beverages (beer and wine only) may be served in moderation by special permission from Hingham Congregational Church.
- If the event is a fundraiser, the event will be subject to Hingham Board of Health conditions. A one-day liquor license is required and must be obtained from the Hingham Board of Selectmen. The form can be found here. Proof of the license and town approval must be presented to the church office before approval of the event by Hingham Congregational Church. All requirements for serving alcohol at a Fundraiser in Hingham may be obtained by contacting the Town of Hingham.