Does your church meet in a rented facility? A trend I have witnessed over the past few years regarding churches like yours, tenant churches, concerns me.
Let me clarify what I mean by “tenant” church. This is a church that meets in a rented facility and does not own its own building.
“It will be cheaper than rent”
While I am thankful for all the new churches, I see the same life cycle event happen again and again. Typically, once new churches get past the survival stage they begin to look for a permanent home. I understand setting up and tearing down for each service takes a toll on volunteers. I know because my wife and I did that for almost a year. But finding a permanent home can destroy your church. Let me explain.
I encounter many new churches. They have energy, excitement and are passionate about their church. Everyone pitches in to make it go. Families connect and bond outside of services. Things are going well. You can feel the electricity around them. This is great!
However…and this is the tough part I see so often..
A search committee locates an existing building that can be purchased dirt cheap. Usually it is larger than their current needs. Rationalization begins in the form of comments like, “It will be cheaper than rent.” Or, “It may be a little larger than we need now but with our growth it will be just the right size in a few years.” Again, “with a little elbow grease and sweat we can fix it up in no time.”
“It may be a little larger than we need now but with our growth..”
This is when I see so many tenant churches crash and burn. The prospect of getting a big building can dull our judgement. Once the building is acquired it becomes the focus of money, time and effort instead of growing the kingdom of God and ministering to people. The argument of having a large building to help more people doesn’t hold water with me.
I am not knocking large churches. I love large churches that keep the main thing the main thing. This happens in a plurality of spiritual men keeping each other accountable. Without that – the church dies. Shouldn’t the church of Jesus be doing ministry in their community and neighborhoods instead of just the building?
The argument of having a large building to help more people doesn’t hold water with me.
Once the building is acquired it takes time and maintenance and more importantly money to sustain it. If changes are needed to an existing building many times local codes and ordinances make it very expensive. Also, older existing buildings are not as energy efficient as newer construction. Newer buildings may not look like a traditional church building but may have more opportunity for multi-purpose use. Younger Christians may not care that your new facility does not look like a traditional church. Isn’t church the “people” anyway?
Some pastors equate ministry success to a large building. Almost a monument as to what “they” built. I know I am treading on some peoples hallowed ground but I have seen it happen so many times it is heartbreaking. Petty bickering can ensue over building use and design and needing more big screens vs giving to missions, etc. Again, this is where spiritual men (plural) need to lead.
Consider a Long-term Lease Instead
While having a permanent place seems attractive let me have you consider obtaining a long term lease in a place that allows growth.
- No worries about maintenance
- Insurance is much less
- You can permanently set up equipment and design to your specifications
Make sure your insurance policy covers alterations and improvements you make to your rented facility. It would be a tragedy to lose the money you put into a building only to lose its value in a fire.
