I am a member of a church that has a commercial kitchen. It has taken me months and months to get them to respond to me about renting their kitchen.
This week, I finally spoke to someone, who gave me the name of the woman who is supposedly in charge of renting it, and I called her, left several messages, and today, she left a super snotty message that said "I can't rent to you. It interfers with my schedule."
She didn't even know when I wanted to use it! So I called her back, and she tells me that she rents it out herself for her "very busy" catering business and didn't want me in the kitchen when she was. So I ask her if I could just work when she wasn't, and she said, no, she didn't want to deal with my schedule! She works 7 days a week, all day, blah blah blah. Of course, I have NEVER seen her cooking in there all the times I have been to the kitchen, but that is beside the point.
Then, she tells me that if I did rent the kitchen, that I would have to have one of HER employees there. What the ? That doesn't even make sense. It is the church's kitchen, not hers! Why would I have to hire one of her employees to supervise me?
Basically, I think it boils down to the woman just doesn't want to share. I am so mad, not because the answer was no (OK, maybe 10% of it ) but because she pretty much just blew me off, and said no without checking with anyone else, because she is selfish!
Should I contact someone else at the church? Or just leave it alone because it would make her mad, and who needs that?
briansbaker Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jan 19, 2005
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Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:21 pm
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Ok.. Now About your story. i would think, she would LOVE to take part in allowing you to rent the kitchen. I mean is it not for the church.. I mean the money.. Sounds as if she is being selfish.. I would complain to someone about her rudeness.. But not about the whole she wont let me rent it.. Good Luck
ccr03 Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 16, 2005
Posts: 1476
Location: Independence, MO
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Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:34 pm
I would definitely contact someone at the church! I volunteer at the church and it's school but there is only one person that is in charge of the school gym rental schedule. It used to be one person, but she didn't do a very good job at it.
But the point is 1. the church may not even know how she is administering the kitchen rental, 2. you would be giving the church more money and trust me no church is gonna turn down more money and 3. it is not her kitchen to rent out. It is the church kitchen. The church may have asked/put her in charge, but for her to act like it is her own personal property is wrong. I would definitely let the church know. HOWEVER, I would not be snotty or angry about it. When you talk with the church person, ask polite, straight questions. Tell them that you are confused on the kitchen rental process. Her them exactly what she told you. Let them know that you are very interesting in renting the kitchen and if the arrangement with the cater is already made like that, you don't mind working around her.
summernoelle Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 08, 2007
Posts: 1432
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:44 pm
She also kept telling me I would be subletting it from her, which I didn't get.
maria892 Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 208
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:54 pm
summernoelle wrote:
She also kept telling me I would be subletting it from her, which I didn't get.
That would mean that she rents the kitchen from the church and YOU would be renting the kitchen from HER.
So you would be paying HER the rent and not the church - that is how I read it anyway. So, would the church know about this sub-let business. ??
I would definitely talk to someone else.
If you are at the church then you want to keep the money for your church solely, right? Seems a bit of greed has jumped on to this ladies shoulders.
summernoelle Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 08, 2007
Posts: 1432
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:01 pm
Well, greed for not wanting to share. She was so snotty, too! The message she left made me so mad, and they when I spoke to her, she said that she didn't want to deal with me needing to use it, too.
I wrote my pastor, who was the one who helped me in the first place. Our church is so big that it is impossible to know who to contact, anyway. Uh oh, that makes me nervous. Like he isn't busy enough already!
luv2cake Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 21, 2005
Posts: 791
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:05 pm
Yeah, I agree...talk to someone else in the church. Just tell them that you were confused by your conversation with this lady. Maybe the church leadership doesn't know what's going on and that this lady thinks the kitchen belongs to her.
I go to a church with a commercial kitchen also. I have thought about renting it out, but I am not ready to do that just yet. But I have a Pastor that believes that the church belongs to the members and he usually offers their facilities free of charge...however, if I wanted to use it for profit, I would probably have to pay rent...which is only fair.
But back to my point....I would talk to someone else. Maybe the answer would still be "no," but at least you can let someone know how posessive of the kitchen this lady is. It's unfortunate for sure!
maria892 Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 208
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:10 pm
It doesn't hurt to ask questions, and that way, in your mind you'll know the answer once and for all.
Good Luck and your pastor should not be too busy to answer a simple question for you.
MimiFord Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 23, 2007
Posts: 425
Location: Oklahoma
Birthday: Dec 30
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:11 pm
I would suggest going back to the person that referred you this caterer, after all, she also has to answer to someone if she is renting also, correct?
JMHO, it doesn't matter how large a congregation is, use of the premises should be available to anyone that belongs to the congregation, whether they use the facilities for free or pay, as long as it is for reasonable use, and doesn't interfere with church activities/functions.
This person obviously hasn't learned much from being a member of your church, or anyone else's for that matter.
summernoelle Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 08, 2007
Posts: 1432
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:24 pm
MimiFord, thanks for putting into words what I couldn't. You are right about use of the premises being for the congregation. I'll use that if anyone gives me a hard time!
Although, why do I feel like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum about not getting my way? Something about how she treated me just flipped a switch that made me think, hey! that's not fair! LOL
sheila06 Regular Member
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 124
Location: Most Beautiful Beaches Destin Florida
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:45 pm
I think you should take it before the board of the church !!!
Usually the board of the church is the one who runs the financial areas of the church. In our case it is. The board may have someone in charge of different areas of the church (such as the kitchen) as well as different areas of ministry. But all of those people usually have to report in to the board on things that are going on in their area. I would be put on their agenda and attend the next meeting and voice what happened and what you are trying to accomplish. Tell them how she was acting also....some churches (especially big ones) may want to know how the people of their congregation is acting, after all they represent that church !! Let them take it from there and they can make the desicison and over- ride everything she says.
I would be cautious about telling people how she acted. Since you're working through the pastor, only discuss the details with him, no one else. You never know what kind of friends this lady has in what places and you don't want to step on anybody's toes. The pastor will know how to handle this and will direct you in the best direction to go. Until then, just be patient. Sadly, you have to deal with the church politics and that can get really sticky if handled wrong.
I'm sure something will be worked out although I doubt the caterer will ever be nice to you.
DoniB Forum Addict
Joined: May 11, 2007
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Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:32 pm
summernoelle wrote:
MimiFord, thanks for putting into words what I couldn't. You are right about use of the premises being for the congregation. I'll use that if anyone gives me a hard time!
Although, why do I feel like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum about not getting my way? Something about how she treated me just flipped a switch that made me think, hey! that's not fair! LOL
Maybe because it wasn't fair? Seriously... I agree with Mimiford... the church property should be shared by its members, and she should make allowances for you. This lady didn't even give you a chance, and sounds like she's considering it her territory, without regard to anyone else's needs or feelings. If she's running a catering business that's that busy, shouldn't she have enough incoming cash to be able to support her own place by now? I understand if she's working up to that, but hindering someone else for her own gain... that's not a very spiritually aware thing to do, IMHO, no matter what religion you are!
I'd definitely make someone aware of it, though it's true that you should do so as discreetly as possible. I don't think I've ever been in any organization where the politics could get as nasty as in church. (your mileage may vary)
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
DoniB Forum Addict
Joined: May 11, 2007
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Location: Lincolnton, NC
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Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:34 pm
summernoelle wrote:
MimiFord, thanks for putting into words what I couldn't. You are right about use of the premises being for the congregation. I'll use that if anyone gives me a hard time!
Although, why do I feel like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum about not getting my way? Something about how she treated me just flipped a switch that made me think, hey! that's not fair! LOL
Maybe because it wasn't fair? Seriously... I agree with Mimiford... the church property should be shared by its members, and she should make allowances for you. This lady didn't even give you a chance, and sounds like she's considering it her territory, without regard to anyone else's needs or feelings. If she's running a catering business that's that busy, shouldn't she have enough incoming cash to be able to support her own place by now? I understand if she's working up to that, but hindering someone else for her own gain... that's not a very spiritually aware thing to do, IMHO, no matter what religion you are!
I'd definitely make someone aware of it, though it's true that you should do so as discreetly as possible. I don't think I've ever been in any organization where the politics could get as nasty as in church. (your mileage may vary) For what it's worth, I once had to deal with someone not acting correctly at a church, and it was kept very quiet... I didn't tell anyone. Turns out it wasn't just happening to me... it was happening to a lot of people. The pastor was actually the one doing the damage, but by the time I found that out, it was ten years and a lot of water under burned bridges too late.
Tell someone, and make sure that your complaint is documented, as well, so that if it turns out she's turning down other folks' requests for kitchen space, you'll have something to take to the board of directors, deacons, or whatever flavor of committee you have in your church.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
summernoelle Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 08, 2007
Posts: 1432
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:48 pm
Thanks! I'm sure it will have to wait till Monday, when they get back.
Grrrr. I'm still annoyed.
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? That doesn't even make sense. It is the church's kitchen, not hers! Why would I have to hire one of her employees to supervise me?
) but because she pretty much just blew me off, and said no without checking with anyone else, because she is selfish!
Seriously... I agree with Mimiford... the church property should be shared by its members, and she should make allowances for you. This lady didn't even give you a chance, and sounds like she's considering it her territory, without regard to anyone else's needs or feelings. If she's running a catering business that's that busy, shouldn't she have enough incoming cash to be able to support her own place by now? I understand if she's working up to that, but hindering someone else for her own gain... that's not a very spiritually aware thing to do, IMHO, no matter what religion you are!
