Place, Size, Fit, & Balance One Church s search for the right home.
Findlay St Christian Church
The Right Place It s not all about visibility.
So why do Churches end up in the wrong place? The context or circumstances around them change and the Church doesn t.
Where is that Church?
Lake Washington CC Kirkland WA
Eminent Domain
Does it have Parking? $16,000 + Taxes $10,000 + Land Cost
Is it a Neighborhood Church or a Niche Church? Neighborhood Churches need to be located within walking distance of a residential neighborhood. Niche Churches need to be located near a Public Transit Station or major Bus Route.
Findlay St Household Locations Houston, we have a problem. Everyone is a far away alien. Findlay St CC changed from a neighborhood church to a niche church.
Neighborhood & Niche 2421 14th Ave S. Findlay Street Christian Church
The Right Size It s not just about building for the greater glory of God.
So how do we determine how big a Church should be? Human social group size and sanctuary seat occupancy rates are the key factors in determining the right size for a church.
University Christian Church - Seattle
Church Building Size / Members Church - Location Size Active Members * Sunday Attendance * SF / Sunday University CC Seattle 48,400 SF 163 (???) 78 (<30)** 1613 SF Central CC Denver 35,000+/- SF 350 (???) 150 (???) 233 SF Fairview CC Kansas City MO 26,200 SF 515 223 117 SF Old Findlay St CC Seattle 13,900 SF 88 48 290 SF First CC Scott City KS 13,100 SF 325 110 119 SF Lake City CC Seattle 12,640 SF 100 65 194 SF Lake Washington CC Kirkland WA 6,900 SF 125 54 128 SF Renton United CC Renton WA 6,700 SF 89 68 98 SF Proposed Findlay St CC Seattle 4,300 SF 88 48 90 SF * Statistics from 2009 DOC Yearbook ** Credible Anecdotal Information
Church Membership Size Small (pastoral) Churches: 100 to 150 Ac*ve Members Med-size (program) Churches: 250 to 300 Ac*ve Members Large (cathedral) Churches: 300+ Ac*ve Members
Old Findlay St Christian Church - Seattle
Findlay St CC - Timeline
The Magic Number 150 Primate Social Capacity closely correlates to the size of the brain s neocortex. For humans this translates to a social network of approximately 150. 150 is the tipping point, groups larger than 150 tend to splinter into two or more smaller groups. The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell
40 / 80 Rule
Sanctuary Size 150 Persons x 12 SF / person 1,800 SF or 1,700 2,100 SF Sanctuary Size should be approximately 12 +/- SF per Person
Proposed Findlay St CC - Seattle
Right Size the Not So Big Church Small Church (Pastoral) Sanctuary & Narthex 1-2 Offices 2-3 Classrooms Kitchen Medium Church (Program) Sanctuary & Narthex 2-3 Offices 3-4 Classrooms Kitchen Fellowship Hall 4,000 SF minimum 12,000 SF maximum
The Right Fit What were they thinking when they built this Church?
The Church s mission is no longer only Christian education and fellowship. Our Church buildings need to be simple and flexible structures that can accommodate a variety of uses in order to support evolving mission centered congregations.
First Christian Church Scott City KS
Lake City Christian Church Seattle
Classroom begets Storage This is a problem in at least half of our Churches.
How s that working for you?
Proposed Findlay St CC - Seattle
Proposed Findlay St CC - Seattle
The Right Balance It s about good stewardship of the resources we have.
Fairview Christian Church Kansas City!
Consider this: Utility costs are rising faster than inflation. Maintenance is the most often postponed line item in a budget but when it comes due it is often as an unavoidable crisis. Over the life of an average building Operating & Maintenance costs will be 3 to 6 times the original cost of the building. For Churches, that are expected to last longer this ratio is far higher.
How can we be good stewards of what we have been given? What s the right balance between staff salary, mission giving, facility O&M, and other program needs.
Operating Expenses
Fairview Christian Church Kansas City
Proposed Findlay St CC - Seattle
The Right Church Home Right Place Neighborhood or Niche Church Right Size Not So Big Church Right Fit Flexibility for Mission Right Balance Staff Salary vs. O&M Costs The KISS Principle Keep it Simple & Small
Findlay St Christian Church s Future Home