Yesterday, we examined Trend 2: Multifunction, Multipurpose, Multi-Venue, Multi-Site from 7 Biggest Trends for Churches by Church Business. Today, we’ll be looking at Trend 3:
Churches Must Act Like Good Neighbors
Stephen J. Ferrandi says:
It used to be that if you wanted to build a church — not a megachurch, just a church — people didn’t fight you. And now, if you want to build a church of any size, you can expect it. I tell my clients to budget three years from the day they put down a contract to the day they break ground — to get through the entitlement process and a couple of public hearings. That gives them time to raise the money, hire the contractor, etc., ahead of time.
Ferrandi is correct that it is often takes longer than churches expect to get through the entitlement process. As he points out, sometimes churches can use that time to ‘get their house in order’. However, churches must realize that their building project is a testimony, just like all other endeavors, to everyone involved. With that said, churches should consider what they can give back to the community (a park, a recreational center, community housing) or how the community can be involved (town meetings at an early stage where input actually matters). Some churches also consider their interaction with government officials and choose to go above and beyond what the building codes or township ordinances require.
Following Trend 3: Churches Must Act Like Good Neighbors is Trend 4:Â
Remodeling, Renovation On the Rise
Greg Snider says: “I’m noticing a huge awareness that facilities matter. There are churches in communities of half-million-dollar homes, but the church itself hasn’t been touched in 20 years…People are walking in and walking out.”
Greg is correct that facilities matter. Children’s spaces(see Trend 1) and bathrooms are particularly important. If your children’s spaces are in the basement or in a far-off corner of the building, consider relocating them to a more prominent location. If the finishes in your bathroom haven’t been updated since Jimmy Carter took office, it’s probably time for a change. However, in order to be good stewards, it is wise to have a qualified architect complete a masterplan for the entire facility before moving ahead with any construction efforts, even for small renovation projects.Â
In the next installment, we’ll be looking at Trend 5: Traditional Design Elements Make a Comeback
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[...] Tomorrow we’ll be looking at Trend 3: Churches Must Act Like Good Neighbors [...]
Jon – I’m really enjoying this series of writings you’re putting together. My church went through a lenghty process with our community, only to be turned-down after 2 years of effort. We appealed the case in the courts, since it seemed to be discriminatory (they approved a winery next to our property at the same time they turned us down.) The judge handed it back to the township and told them to change their decision. It’s not like we haven’t been good neighbors involved in our community. Our pastors and people fed and house the community on multiple occassions when their were serious floods over the past 2 years. We were in peoples houses clearing out the mud while the township was not. We provided food and coffee for the emergency services personnel that were on the scene during the night, and there are other things that we do uniquely for our community.
Anyway, looking forward to your next installment!
[...] Last week, we examined Trends 3 & 4 from the 7 Biggest Trends for Churches by Church Business. Today, we’ll be looking at Trend 5: Traditional Design Elements Make a Comeback [...]
Travis — Thanks for the comment. Your situation shows that sometimes you can do everything right and still encounter difficulties, which is why Ferrandi’s suggestion is to “budget three years from the day they put down a contract to the day they break ground”. Thankfully, in your situation, a judge was able to change the township’s decision. There are probably other situations around the country where churches were not as fortunate. As you point out, being good neighbors does not preclude battling discrimanatory behavior.
Jon
http://www.TheMinistryCafe.com
http://www.ChurchArchitects.com