If You Could Design a Church Building (Writing Prompt)
If money were no object and you could design a dream church (from the inside out) what would you include and exclude? What color would your carpet be? (Ha Ha)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Darrel Manson on -
in the worship space, theater seats that are arrangeable and as little that is fixed in place as possible.
as many projectors/screens to make it easy for everyone to see regardless of configuration and in all classrooms/fellowship spaces.
art - tapestries like at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral are nice, or paintings like Jim Janknegt does (he does commissions for churches), or something else, but definitely some art.
A/C
gym and showers for the staff (between cost of gyms and time it takes out of the day, it may be one of the best things you could do to help keep a pastor healthy). And the showers could be used for overnight work camps.
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Permalink Reply by Maria P Tafoya on -
The ideal worship space is space that can be reconfigured to fit the service and/or the congregation. Wheelchairs wouldn't be relegated to the back row or some randomly selected row with a short pew. Table, podium, even choir space would be moveable as best suits the events taking place. It's hard to invite a liturgical dancer to a church where everything is anchored in place. Sound system and screens would be designed so they could be reconfigured also, or at least visible/audible from every spot in the worship space. The baptistry would be at ground level and easy to get in and out of for persons of differing abilities. Even the education/meeting space should be reconfigurable with moveable dividers of some kind instead of lots of solid walls.
But mostly the lights would be easy to reach in order to change light bulbs! In other words, the space would be maintainable by ordinary people using ordinary tools!
Everything used in the building and maintenance of the worship center would be as green as possible! Lots of plants appropriate to the climate, lawn only if that is natural in the ecosystem where the church is located, etc. . .
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Permalink Reply by Darrel Manson on
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Green. Yes.
Think how nice it would be to run an electric meter backwards all week if the facility isn't in use by filling the south side of the roof with solar panels - and maybe covering the parking lot with solar panels (providing shade and power.)
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Permalink Reply by John E. Smith on -
Hi, Susan - wonderful question:)
I'm no architect, so I'll hand off the detailed planning to someone else. Here's what I would ask them to incorporate:
Green: Energy-efficient, green space, and grounds - lots of plants, trees, and other growing things inside and out. Ideally, a small body of water ("Walden Puddle")
Interactive: wireless internet access throughout, with video/teleconferencing capacity, lots of different-sized rooms for meetings of groups of varying sizes and purposes.
Flexible: Moveable seating, walls, and configurations. As much that can be redesigned easliy as needs change, either temporarily or more permanently.
Open: Lots of glass and roomy, open spaces. Views of the outside. Art that expands one's minds and invites reflection and consideration.
Scared Space: at least three places where types of worship can occur. A traditional space, and several other more pliable spaces (see Flexible). One could even be outside:).
So now you know why those architects and building planners run screaming from my approach:).
John
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Permalink Reply by Susan Barton on -
Your vision of church sounds like my dream home! I like it.
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Permalink Reply by Nancy Brookhart on -
It seems that the Israelites who wandered in the desert those 40 years might provide us some insight. TENTS! It would be relatively inexpensive so that we wouldn't spend so much time and energy on financial campaigns for structures. Tents could be moved to wherever the current mission field is. That way we would BE the church instead of GO to church. What color would the carpet be? Depends on where we set up the tents.
A few things I would avoid -- Pews, pipe organs and the CWF's holy kitchen. The kitchen has too often become the holy of holies of our modern day temples. Instead, be sure to have plenty of firewood and marshmallow roasting forks. Graham crackers and chocolate bars, if you're feeling fancy.
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Permalink Reply by Susan Barton on
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I like your thoughts! I have always preferred sitting on the floor which seems to make people uncomfortable, but in the tents you suggest it might just work. And marshmallow roasting for fellowship....sounds dreamy!
I agree with your thought regarding the financial campaigns, pews, pipe organs and kitchen.
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Permalink Reply by Nancy Brookhart on
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I can suggest tents now, but about 10 years ago I was a member of the building committee to plan an addition to our church. Being a part of that planning committee was one of the worst things for my spirit. It is a draining task.
The building space is well-used and we now have a building that is accessible to all. The mission and ministry of the congregation has flourished in this wonderful space. Unfortunately, we have not spent enough of our time and energy on the financial aspects and now we find ourselves in a pickle. We need a serious, strong stewardship campaign to shore up our finances. Please pray for Broadway Christian in that regard.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Morse on -
- Green (ecologically speaking) in every facet
- Intentional about people with differing abilities: physically, mentally, & emotionally
- Busier Mon-Fri than Sunday because it is a blessing to the community: learning resource, recreation, performing arts, community organizing....whatever seems right for the particular community.
- Comfy, clean, & safe
- Structurally sound and easy to maintain inexpensively (thank you Maria for the reminder)
- "Zen-like" simplicity
- Lots of blue. I think it is pretty.
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