Community Spaces
One of the things I’m most passionate about when it comes to design for ministry is creating spaces that are actually not really for church people at all. Or at least, not for a good part of each week. I’ve had the good fortune to be part of some incredibly creative, outwardly focused ministries over the years, and have had the privilege to participate in creating spaces that function primarily as small businesses during the 9 to 5. And while running a business in a ministry-owned space is a whole other undertaking with its own set of challenges, there is something really beautiful about creating spaces that are used primarily by the community, and secondarily by the faith community. For one, it helps us remember who we’re here for. As William Temple, English theologian and archbishop, famously said, “The Church is the only organization that exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.”
Lots of churches have started businesses like coffee shops, preschools, and thrift stores to meet a need in their community and to share with their neighbors. And while these can be a great gift to the community and a connecting point to the church, for many congregations, such an undertaking might not be feasible or even advisable. But that doesn’t mean that your spaces need only serve your people and programs.
There are lots of ways to share your space with your community. You can host weekly recovery meetings. You can open your children’s ministry space for a moms’ morning out or a preschool playdate. You can make your building available as a polling place, or host a neighborhood or civic organization’s monthly meeting. You could install a little free library, open your parking lot to a local food truck or two, host your local farmer’s market, or a summer concert series.
Whatever space you have been given, you can use it to bless those outside of your walls, and I’d love to help! Together, we can create flexible, functional, and welcoming spaces that serve your congregation and your community.
