Let’s continue the thought of last month’s article in which we established the commitment to follow God’s lead first and then identified building program generators. Simply stated, such a program begins when we recognize needs. Any one or more indicators (growth, shifting demographics, changing program, etc.) will start the water boiling.
One of the first questions asked is, “How do we form a building committee?” First, a few critical guidelines:
Jim DePasquale
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Prayerfully and thoughtfully select the chairperson. Leadership skills and availability are key qualifications.
The chairperson must be the sole contact with the architect. (Pastor contact can occasionally be necessary, but remember, minimal confusion comes from having one, not two, captains of the ship.)
Before sharing this final guideline, I can tell you that I frequently receive phone calls from pastors who will enthusiastically say: “Jim, we are ready to go! We’ve got the building committee in place and we have two brick masons and three electricians who have agreed to serve.”
I then remind the pastor that the church is not (yet) putting a construction project in place; rather, it is putting a program in place. Therein lies the third guideline. Yes, at a future point construction expertise will be helpful, but at the start it is essential to have cross-sectional representation of church program areas.
What talents and skills, then, are best-suited for building committee membership? In selecting building committee members, consider the following four categories.
First, look for people who can represent the primary areas of church life. Obviously, the pastor will need to be heavily involved. But areas like worship, music, education, nursery, youth, seniors, fellowship and recreation will also need to be represented. To some extent, the building project will dictate the areas of church life represented. For example, a family life center may require a greater emphasis on the recreational and fellowship areas of church life, while a sanctuary will more heavily favor worship and music.
Next, choose what I call “antenna people.” These are long-standing church members who have a realistic sense of the church and its history. along with community-connected members who have a good pulse on program opportunities that would creatively serve the community.
Third, consider what I refer to as “logistical people.” The people in this category bring specific skills and perspectives to the building committee. The person who will head the capital stewardship campaign is certainly a person to have on the committee. Others who might be good choices are people in public relations, real estate, architecture (but never hire one who is a member), law, interior design and construction. In addition, a person who is politically connected can be helpful.
And the fourth category is what I call progressive thinkers — those who have vision.
In my experience, it is better to include a dissenter from the beginning. Hear what he/she has to say; develop collaborative solutions, and thus avoid a bombshell later.
Because many committee members will possess multiple skills, the total number should be 10-15 persons.
Oh, and before I forget, the most important committee now needs to be formed — a prayer (or inspiration) committee of several church members who will faithfully pray for requests furnished by the building committee chairperson.
In future months we will round out the committee structure when we identify subcommittees required, and we can take a sneak preview of what all committees need to accomplish.
Jim DePasquale, AIA, a member of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, is currently chair of the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture of the Virginia Society, AIA, and a partner in a Richmond architectural firm. This column is a regular feature of the Religious Herald, appearing in the first issue of each month. Send building, landscape or site-related questions to the editor at jwhite@religiousherald.org or directly to Jim DePasquale at jdepasquale@dggrouparchitects.com.