[This is 24th of 25 factors that may impact the survivability and vitality of your congregation. A new factor is being posted each weekday for five weeks. See all the posts at www.BullardJournal.org. Order the whole collection at http://congregationexistpersonal.eventbrite.com/.]
Your congregation is more likely to exist ten years from now if its facilities are in good shape and do not require constant attention other than scheduled and preventive maintenance. It is uncertain or marginal if its facilities need regular repairs that go beyond scheduled and preventive maintenance. It is less likely to exist with vitality and vibrancy ten years from now if its facilities are crumbling around it.
Congregations with facilities that are in good to great shape are able to focus on ministry movements rather than institutional issues. To achieve this status these congregations generally have several characteristics. First, they have adequate facilities but have not overbuilt. Second, they had the wisdom to think through the long-term cost of facilities and to prepare financially for them. Third, they have not had a crisis that has taken them away from this positive intentional plan. Fourth, their membership and attendance continually provides a healthy financial base. Great facilities are wonderful to possess when they are a tool for meaningful ministry.
When facilities need regular repair to keep them useable, the agenda of the congregation must focus around institutional issues more than ministry movements. This can occur because scheduled and preventative maintenance have not taken place due to lack of planning, failure to execute, or insufficient funds. When the repair and maintenance of facilities becomes a primary agenda for congregations then they give inadequate attention to attractional and missional efforts which are the very activities they may long-term provide them with the leadership and financial resources to address their facilities needs. They may begin a spiral downward as a congregation unless they are willing to take significant action to alter their commitment to their facilities.
It appears in my slice of the congregational world that an increasing number of congregations have to give major attention to facilities that are crumbling around them. Some even have to abandon portions of their facilities or even entire buildings. This is something they never thought they would have to do when their robust congregations raised the capital funds to construct these buildings. The crumbling facilities of these congregations are like a glacier moving toward them that may take them over and destroy the congregation’s life and ministry. Often these congregations are so far beyond on maintenance that they will never catch up. On the way to this place they cut out a majority of funding for programs and missions, and then cut the personnel part of their budget, all in our effort to safe their facilities. Once institutionalized to this extent they will not recover without radical action.
What is the condition of your congregational facilities? Are they in good shape, in need of constant repair, or crumbling around you? Please leave a comment and participate in the dialogue.
Copyright 2009, George W. Bullard, Jr. at GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org.
