Congregation raises Katrina funds by selling building on eBay

By Linda Bloom
A UMNS Report

When members of the United Methodist Church in Redkey, Ind., decided to sell an old church building on eBay, they were looking for more than a quick profit.

The $40,600 winning bid - which came this past fall - is now being used for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

The Rev. Randy Davis said the congregation was elated by the opportunity to contribute a sum that it could never have raised under normal circumstances. "It was so much fun just watching the auction take place," he added.

Previously the home of North Madison United Methodist Church, the 7,000-square-foot building became vacant in fall 2004 after the North Madison congregation merged with a group of members from Main Street United Methodist Church. The new Redkey congregation has about 90 members.

"With two buildings, we had to decide which one we would use," Davis said. The Main Street facility was larger and had more parking.

Located about 50 miles south of Fort Wayne, the North Madison church was constructed in 1900 by the United Brethren, a predecessor denomination. It was rebuilt after an early fire and has 29 leaded, stained-glass windows, along with the original bell still hanging in the belfry.

The idea of selling the empty church on eBay first surfaced as a joke, but after someone who had expressed interest in the building declined to buy, the eBay option came under serious discussion.

Church members were in constant contact with United Methodist officials to make sure they observed proper denominational procedures in selling the building. Bishop Michael Coyner of the Indiana Area wrote a letter of support.

On Oct. 17, the building was listed on eBay with a $1 reserve. "The $1 reserve meant that $2 could buy this place," Davis explained. "We had the faith to believe that it would go for considerably more than that."

What the congregation didn't know was how popular the listing would become. According to Davis, it was one of the top 10 items viewed on the well-known Internet auction site.

He estimates that the North Madison building would have sold for $5,000 to $15,000 if a local auction had been conducted. Using eBay offered a much broader base of interested visitors. "The building is worth every dime of the $40,000," he said. "It's worth more than that."

The winning bid came from Douglas Fleck, a financial consultant and yacht broker in Stuart, Fla. After weathering three hurricanes in the last 14 months, Fleck said he wants to make the building a summer home. "I liked the idea of the money going for hurricane victims," he added.

All of the proceeds will be sent to UMCOR, Davis said. "We will cover all closing costs," the pastor said. "Every dime of that will make its way to Katrina relief."

Linda Bloom serves as a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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