A Capital Campaign for Renewal + Mission
For generations, Trinity has been a sacred home for worship, learning and fellowship—a place where we encounter God’s presence and strengthen one another for the journey of faith. As we look to the years ahead, we are invited once again to come together to care for our spiritual home so it may continue to serve as a beacon of faith for all who enter.
On March 15, 2026, we will launch Trinity Together: A Capital Campaign for Renewal and Mission. This focused effort to ensure that our facilities remain safe, welcoming and equipped to support our ministry for years to come. The areas of concern are:
Safety: Several lower-level classroom windows do not open, limiting ventilation and preventing emergency egress. This puts our children and adults at risk of being unable to exit safely during an emergency, an issue that must be addressed without delay.
Song: Routine maintenance and repairs to the organ and choir loft have been deferred for decades due to lack of funding. Restoring these instruments of worship will ensure that music continues to inspire and uplift our congregation.
Structure: While small roof sections have been replaced over time, the remaining major portions now exceed available resources. Completing this work will protect our building, preserve our investment, and ensure the longevity of our worship and ministry spaces.
The combined cost of these essential projects is $355,000, based on current written estimates for materials and labor and reflecting anticipated fluctuations in costs and supply availability.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44
FAQs
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In recent years, the Vestry and the Buildings and Grounds Committee have managed our facility needs with great care and fiscal responsibility. More than $285,000 in upgrades and repairs have been completed through creative and careful spending of undesignated gifts and bequests. This stewardship has allowed us to address many needs without impacting our annual operational budget. But now, some of our most pressing needs can no longer be addressed without additional financial support.
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Undesignated bequests occur when individuals designate Trinity Church as a beneficiary in their will or memorials are received in honor of an individual without specific instructions of how to utilize the funds. There have also been instances of unsolicited donations that may or may not come with instructions of how the donation is to be spent. These “undesignated” bequests and gifts are like “mana from heaven”, unexpected in nature, and not a reliable means of funding.
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The necessary repairs exceed the operating budget for the parish. Other building needs have been addressed by careful and responsible spending of undesignated bequests and gifts.
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Seeking commercial lending to cover these expenses is an option, but it comes with significant risks and obligations. First, interest on loans of this type may restrict parish finances and may ultimately exceed the cost of the project. While rare, but not unheard of, commercial loans of this type have lead to the downfall of parishes. Second, because of this risk, any commercial loans would need approval from the Diocese which would also include Diocesan oversight and control of the project.
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Liz Paulsen and Sharon Long are co-chairs of the capital campaign. In addition, a capital campaign committee has been formed with the following members: Dave Burka, Ann Brophy, Grace Gnorski, John Gnorski, Chris Morse and Xander Waites
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Updates on achieving our goal will be communicated through signage in the parish hall and narthex as well as regular updates in the Tidings, e-news, and Sunday bulletins.
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Difficult decisions will need to be made regarding the priority of projects and whether the parish will need to take on debt in order to maintain a safe place to gather for worship, study and community. Unfortunately, it is the accumulation of debt that is often the downfall of many parishes. We believe that a successful campaign will result in a stable future of this parish.
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What a blessing! In the event we exceed our campaign goals, excess money will be placed in the capital budget account. This is separate from the operating budget which is funded by annual pledges and dividend distributions from the Trinity Foundation. The capital account will be used to cover building repairs/renovations that are necessary with any building upkeep.
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The campaign is ongoing and pledge sheets will be collected through April 30, 2026. Pledges can be spread out over a 3 year period. The campaign will officially end in May 2029.
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Much like your home, there will always be necessary repairs, replacements, upgrades, etc., to the parish buildings. The Building and Grounds committee and vestry continue to make fiscally responsible decisions regarding maintenance and repairs. At this time, building repairs requisite upgrades exceed available funding necessitating this capital campaign.
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Annual pledges fund the annual operating budget that covers the day to day operations of the church. The annual operating budget is approved by the vestry and submitted to the parish at the annual meeting each January. From time to time, the operating budget may include funds to be placed into a capital account. The capital account is what is used to pay for improvements and repairs to the parish buildings (church and rectory).
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The pledge window is March 16-April 30, 2026. But those pledges can be fulfilled over the next three years.
Commitment Period: March 15 – April 30
Pledge Fulfillment Period: Up to 3 years -
Yes! You can pay through our online system at trinitywauwatosa.org/giving
Choose the “2026 Trinity Together Capital Campaign” card. You can choose between a one-time payment or a reoccurring payment.