Thinking about buildings

How do you decide where to spend the church budget? And not just the budget but what about the money raised for capital projects? I ask myself these questions because I know that I'm going to face the challenge of a building that needs to change but a mission that is never confined to the building.

Somehow we have to find the balance between having nice buildings in which we can worship and fulfil the internal ministry of the church and following Jesus into the world on his mission. Re-reading Haggai brings this into focus as God asks the question: "Why do you live in panelled houses while my house remains a ruin?" The context of the question is the stalled work on rebuilding the temple, the central focal point of Jewish worship. Of course everyone knew that the temple simply provided a place, it didn't define worship. But buildings do take on a defining role over time. Our current building in Cotton End has been described as a fine example of late Georgian architecture, with a hint of the need to preserve it as such. But we are no longer a Georgian people, and the building, at the very least, has to serve the current church just as it was intended to serve the church of that generation.

But if we're entering an era of the church where we are rediscovering the call of God to partner with him in his mission, then what place do our buildings play? I guess I'm just concerned that a building project doesn't become the defining element of any ministry. Concerned that we don't end up with wonderful twenty-first century buildings and then discover we are even less relevant to the people who need us most.

So beware of using Haggai as a proof-text for the next phase of your building development, and remember that Jesus said he would build his church and he wasn't talking about bricks and mortar, worship centres and multi-purpose sports halls!