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Wesley ministry seeks new home closer to campus

The Wesley Campus Ministry has called its 214 Pittsboro St. location home since 1965, but due to substantial member growth, officials say the ministry is now looking for a new home closer to campus.

Wesley, a nonprofit campus ministry founded in the 1940s, is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and provides worship services and fellowship opportunities for University students.

Its building also houses Wesley House, a residential community where 10 undergraduate students live each year.

Brett Piper, board of directors co-chairman, said Wesley leaders discussed rezoning and expanding their current location with the Chapel Hill Town Council, but the council decided that the area could not be rezoned — prompting Wesley to look for another location.

Piper said the ministry has tripled its membership and is looking for a spot that better serves its student ministry.

He said the group is still working to sell its current building, proceeds from which will fund a new building. A new location hasn’t yet been chosen.

According to Orange County’s Geographic Information System, the current location was valued at nearly $2 million in 2009.

In the meantime, Jim Kocher, who is also board of directors co-chairman, said Wesley will likely have to hold events in temporary locations around campus, such as University United Methodist Church at 150 E. Franklin St.

But despite the temporary inconvenience, he said the move out of the old building will be a positive one.

“In more recent times it’s been confining to us,” Kocher said.

Piper said a large portion of the ministry’s funding — which is provided primarily by donations from members and other local congregations — now goes to paying the building’s utilities.

He said the ministry decided that using their money for that purpose didn’t best serve the ministry’s purpose.

“The building has been almost a burden,” he said.

Wesley students agree that the move to a new location will be a welcome change.

Junior Annie Segal, a member of the Wesley ministry, said she hopes a location closer to campus will help raise student awareness about the ministry.

“It’ll be an opportunity to expand Wesley on campus,” she said.

Despite the advantages of a larger building closer to campus, Kocher said he thinks the move will be bittersweet.

The current location has been home to activities like informal student gatherings, worship, student-led programs and Bible studies — and leaders said it will be missed.

“This has been a wonderful home for a very long time,” Kocher said.

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.

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