Faith Lutheran updates its building

By Trisha Marczak | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, May 16, 2008

Faith Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls has revamped its building to accomodate handicapped parishioners.

Churches are generally exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act, but as the Rev. Craig Palach said, the church had the moral responsibility to provide convenient and accessible accommodations for the growing number of elderly and handicapped parishioners.

“It has really been a positive thing for the church. These were things we needed to do,” Palach said.

An elevator and handicapped accessible bathrooms have been added to the building, along with a new stairwell, an outside porch, offices and a larger narthex and coatroom.

Parishioner Donna Olson, who has attended the church for many years, was excited by the new project. Past injuries have made using the stairs difficult, and now she’s able to use the lift at her convenience.

“When I come in, I take the lift, and I love it,” Olson said.

Olson said it’s individuals like herself that are benefiting from the new feature. She regularly rides the elevators with fellow church-goers, who also make good use of the improvement.

In addition to the handicapped friendly features, the church is also sprucing things up—landscaping is set to begin within a few weeks.

The building project had been discussed within the church for the past 10 years. Four years ago, a church committee formed to discuss specific needs and financial planning for the project. Thanks to parishioner support, the project began last Fall.

The finishing touches of the remodeling and construction project are being made now, and are set to be complete for the church’s June 1 dedication ceremony.

The dedication will serve as a spiritual blessing ceremony and will follow the regularly scheduled 9 a.m. service. A pot-luck brunch will be served after the dedication. Palach expects things to wrap up by noon.