Buildings for the Church of the Future

When it comes to the churches of the future, the stereotypical images of a church with a pitched roof, steeple, and cross on top will be gone for a variety of reasons: (1) the facilities of the future will house folks from the interfaith community because no one faith dominates; (2) the churches of old are not a good stewardship model primarily because they are utilized only at most 15 percent of the time and are costly to maintain; and (3) people today are reticent to pay a lot of money to maintain property and subsequent staff.

Here is how I envision the buildings of this future church. It will come in many different forms.

Model 1: This first model will resemble a mall and could even be a redesigned mall, many of which today are going out of business because the shopping model has changed. First, it will be a large multipurpose room to hold religious services for different denominations and faith groups. It will be available to the community for lectures, religious gatherings, and training for volunteers. What were once stores will be transformed into offices for nonprofit groups where they can interface with other groups and share equipment, staff, and meeting rooms. Rents and overhead costs will be minimal because they are nonprofit businesses. (This is a bird’s-eye sketch. I’ll explore this more in detail in a later blog post.)

Model 2: This model will redesign and revamp old churches that are closed or closing down for maximum usage. Undeveloped green areas will offer space for community gardens, tent camps that temporarily shelter homeless people, or volunteer groups to do their projects in. Former parish halls will become offices and meeting halls. Many of these buildings will be in low-income areas that need services nearby.

Model 3: These facilities will utilize underused or closed strip malls and will again be set up with offices and a larger meeting facility. Their mission will be to serve their immediate community, facilitating the needs of a specific neighborhood and bringing services much closer to the people who need them.

Model 4: Many local elementary schools are closing because there are not enough students to support them. These facilities will be transformed into offices, meeting spaces, and specific services for that community. School playgrounds could become sporting facilities, gardens, and space for portable buildings.

Model 5: This model resembles or is part of a college or university, especially because so many institutions of higher learning were started by a different denomination or faith. Because a school is already established, this would simply be a department that would be able to use so many of the facilities that are already there, such as classrooms, auditoriums, chapels, and childcare facilities.

Whatever model is used, all people and groups involved must subscribe to the concept of agape, the unconditional love for everyone no matter where they are on their life’s journey with lots of forgiveness and tons of caring for our fellow human beings. Each model would offer training for those wanting to volunteer as well as a place to prepare people to be involved in peaceful demonstrations. By fostering ecumenical and interfaith cooperation, our primary purpose would be to build bridges, not walls. This model is always inclusive, and the only exclusivity will be to those who do not subscribe to the power of agape.

There will be more details in future blog posts.

PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness

Bil

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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.

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