Make use of the opportunities of the building
Throughout the UK and the Netherlands there are church buildings. Some are large monumental buildings, others small and chapel-like, but also ‘multi-functional’ ones from the sixties. Sometimes the building is regarded as a burden: the maintenance costs lots of money and a monument has many limitations. What are the missionary opportunities of your church building?
Do not invest in buildings but in people! That is an option and has been happening for years. Don’t have your own building but hold services in a school, or in people’s homes where the circle is small. But what then do we do with all the existing church buildings? Increasingly buildings in the UK are listed which restricts what modifications churches can undertake and it is not always easy to dispose of buildings.
Is it possible for the building to be a missionary opportunity? The building is recognisable and known within the community. It is a fixed point in neighbourhood or town and there for all to see. Very often a monumental building is loved by everybody, not just by church members. ‘The church (read: the building) has to stay!’
A number of suggestions
- Look at the positive points for change: what are the opportunities the building offers and how can we make the best possible use of them? Are there people and organisations who would like to join in and see the building as an opportunity and community asset? You could for instance start a group of “friends” to support the building. Inviting people to be members, ensuring the building is maintained and used by the community.
Amerongen, Netherlands has an organisation called ‘the friends of St. Andrew’s Church’, a separate foundation that not only concentrates on the maintenance of the monumental building but also organises all kinds of concerts. In this way people ‘from outside’ are drawn in and they become actively involved in the building.
- It may help to invite others to have a look at your building, perhaps a financial advisor, or somebody who looks at it from the point of view of mission or community service; or better still somebody who combines both these qualities.
- Very often church halls are hired by the week to all sorts of associations and organisations. There are courses, Weight Watchers are regular weekly tenants, blood donors etc. In this way the church building becomes a neighbourhood centre full of activity and the congregation gets an income too.
- Also try to see it the other way around - not just: whoever wants to use our church facilities is welcome, but also who would we like to invite to make use of our buildings? What fits in with us and with our identity? Not just come along and hire a room, but we would like to make use of this building together with you. Would you like to give a concert here or a theatrical production? Would you like to take part as a volunteer during a drop-in morning?
- Be hospitable to all those who hire the church, both the group organisers and those who attend the groups. They are all entering the building – what kind of welcome do they receive?
“Our church hall was a real mess it looked more like a warehouse than a church hall. That was the first thing we tackled, with a number of volunteers. It took only two Saturdays. At least now we need not be ashamed to get people to come and have a look inside...”
“An enormous church in London has wonderful acoustics and is used by all sorts of musicians and film makers. The congregation itself is only small, just a handful of people left. Despite this the minister is very busy. People talk to her and these encounters lead to all sorts of discussions about life and faith. In the cellar some space has been made available as a drop-in for homeless people. Coffee is served and clothes are distributed. Every day a very varied public comes through the door, with the minister and a handful of ‘driven’ congregation members as hospitable ‘hub’.”
“Place a rack in the entrance hall with information about the congregation and also about faith subjects. ‘What is Easter?’ ‘What does a minister do?’ ‘Who is Jesus?’ ‘What kind of book is the bible?’ ‘What is baptism?’ etc. Compare the racks with patient information at the GP or the chemist.
Possible approach for the church
- As church have a think about your building. How is it being used at the moment? What other possibilities are there? What would you like to do with the building, what fits in with your identity? Do you want to ask someone else to have a look at the building and give you advice? Not only congregation members who are knowledgeable about church buildings but also people and organisations from the neighbourhood who can identify opportunities.
- Make a plan. Are people available at particular times in the week? During the summer? Start in a small way, a drop-in hour, or a coffee morning - and keep at it. People will have to find their way to the church building, see that it is open (how do you make that known on the outside?), be inviting…
- What does the building look like? Is the exterior inviting? And the interior? What steps could be taken to improve this? Ask people from outside to have a look and ask them what they think about your building!
- Think about a possible follow-up: what if all those people that come in want more?
