The Use of Our Facility & Equipment

Facility & Equipment Usage Policy

Who May Use the Facility?

The Facility of Grand Prairie Bible Church exists primarily for the ministries of Grand Prairie Bible Church. Exceptions may be made, but only for approved outside ministries or special occasions for members and regular attenders. All exceptions will require staff approval, a deposit, and a reasonable fee.

Any and all usage of the facility of Grand Prairie Bible Church must be scheduled with the Office Manager, subject to staff approval.

Before giving approval to any facility usage, the staff will consider the following criteria:

1. Is there any ministry value (present or future) in the usage requested? While a negative answer may not be a show-stopper, it is certainly an important factor.

2. Is there any other redeeming value in the usage requested? This would include the potential of community impact or the strengthening of families in the church.

Does the nature of the usage requested involve any reasonable risk of injury (hence liability issues) or damage to the facility?
What members will be present throughout said usage? The presence of an appropriate number of members is imperative and necessary for any responsible stewardship.

GPBC Facility Fee Schedule

This schedule represents an effort by GPBC, not to generate meaningful revenue, but to recover foreseeable costs of non-ministry events at the church. Exceptions may be made for events that are embraced by the church as an extension of her ministry.

Refundable Deposit of required for all events.

I. Weddings * (Member/Attender)

A. Sanctuary (& dressing rooms) Free / *

B. Reception: MACRoom / Kitchen / 100

C. Rehearsal Dinner: MAC / Kit. / 50

II. Other

A. Sanctuary / 75 *

B. MAC Room / Kitchen / 75

C. Youth Room ** / Kitchen / 50

D. Classrooms *** / 20

E. Kitchen only / 40

* Sanctuary sound/lighting handled by approved GPBC personnel only, @ /hour/person. This includes the hours required to remove and return the platform sound equipment.

** Youth Room is available only for those 6^th Grade and up.

*** Nurseries are not available for non-ministry events. Library access is limited to adults for special events.

Books, tapes, and videos from the library must be checked out before they are taken from the church property.

TV and VCR equipment may be moved between classrooms. Please tell GPBC staff about your plans to move this kind of equipment.

D. 1Every approved facility usage requires that two members accept full responsibility for the oversight and clean-up of the facility according to the written guidelines of the church office.

E. Those people using the facility are responsible for repairing any damage incurred.

II. Facility Use, Care and Clean-up

A. 1Children are not allowed to play in classrooms without adult supervision. If classrooms are used with a baby-sitter, they should be left as they were found. Trash should be emptied and floors swept.

B. 1Food and drinks are not allowed in the sanctuary, library, or children’s classrooms.

C. Roller skating and blading are not allowed in the facility. The risk of injury to others in the hallway is too great. Any such activity outside is to be limited to GPBC ministry (not personal) events supervised by approved GPBC personnel.

D. 1Every attempt should be made to leave the facility in better condition than before usage.

E. 1Furniture and equipment (tables, chairs, televisions, etc.) should be returned to their original place.

F. 1Trash is to be collected and deposited in the dumpster at the east end of the parking lot.

G. 1Carpeted floors should be vacuumed. Any spills should be given appropriate attention.

H. 1The MAC Room floor should be swept with a dry mop after each use (and wet-mopped if needed). Trash should be taken out (per item F).

I. 1Bathrooms should be left free of clutter, sinks clean and free of standing water, and toilets flushed.

J. The 1Kitchen should be left clean:

• Dirty dishes, utensils, and any other items used from the kitchen should be washed and put away.

• No food is to be left out. Leftovers should be disposed of or taken home. Please do not leave food in the refrigerators.

• Counter tops should be wiped off and coffee makers turned off.

• Kitchen floor should be swept. (and wet-mopped if needed).

• Kitchen trash should be taken to the dumpster.

K. 1Before leaving the building, make sure and adjust all thermostats (push “Run Program”), turn off all the inside lights, lock all interior doors and check all exit doors to be sure the building is secure.

L. Sound equipment on the sanctuary platform can

be moved only by and with the approval of GPBC sound system personnel. While it may be moved, the sound equipment will not be disconnected due to the burden it creates in reconfiguring the complex wiring for Sunday mornings.

The sanctuary grand piano shall not be moved unless extraordinary circumstances are presented, and then only by approved GPBC sound system personnel. In no event will the grand piano be removed from the platform.

M. A checklist of these responsibilities will be given to the member responsible for the oversight and clean-up of the facility.

III. Who May Use the Church Equipment?

All church equipment must stay on the church campus!

This includes, but is not limited to: sound and video equipment, sports equipment, tables, chairs, table cloths, tools, vacuums, ice chests/coolers, appliance dollies, etc.

Exceptions are made for ministry events but only with the approval of GPBC staff. For example, a flock leader may need some extra chairs or one of the older brown tables to accommodate having more people in his home during Sunday night ministry.

Under no circumstances will the white tables leave the church premises.

Under no circumstances will the church’s musical instruments or sound equipment leave the campus. The music and sound equipment may be used or handled (on campus) by members of the GPBC worship team. Exceptions to this policy (non-worship team usage) may be made on a case-by-case basis by GPBC staff.