Sacred Space Conference Workshops
Did you miss the Sacred Space Conference? Did you enjoy the workshop you attended, but would still like to know what happened in the workshop next door? Did the information you received in your class prompt you to become interested in another area of sacred space?
You don’t have to miss out on the learning. Below are highlights, ideas and observations from the participants who attended the workshops offered at the Sacred Space Conference. For additional information or to discuss your congregation’s sacred space needs, contact the Center for Congregations at 317-237-7799 or info@centerforcongregations.org.
Assessing Your Congregation’s Needs
with Kevin Ford
Ford discussed internal and external assessments for congregational change. Change always brings resistance – maybe not the change itself, but the idea of being changed, Ford explained. TAG research shows that the three contributors to a feeling of community in a congregation are small groups, an inviting space (or a “third place”) and connection to the congregational mission. When assessing congregational needs, Ford advises to gather meaning, not just data, and to distinguish between technical and adaptive change.
Building Faith While Constructing Buildings
with Glen Bell
How can we, Bell posed, nurture and strengthen our congregation’s identity as we go through the sticks and bricks of a building project? Bring faith into the building project – use faith as a springboard. Don’t take your space for granted. Our buildings are formative to our faith, Bell stated.
Building the Strategic Congregation
with Kevin Ford
When leadership is shaped, it naturally creates an outward focus, Ford advised. Core values are discovered, not determined. The strategic planning process is only the beginning of a journey of change that will last many years. Vision emerges out of strategy, not the other way around, he said.
Considering Your Worship Environment (Part I) - "From Questioning to New Possibilities”
with Gary Duncan
Duncan advised participants to accept the limits of their congregational space. Use of color, he explained, is important in defining the theme and flavor of a worship space.
Creating Space That is Both Welcoming and Sacred
with Ron Wolfson
Wolfson discussed the importance of greeting first-time worshippers before as well as after the service. Try to find ways to look objectively at the extent to which your congregation lives out its claim to be a welcoming place. Churches and synagogues can learn about hospitality from a variety of sources in our culture.
Creating Your Worship Environment (Part II) - “Making It Happen”
with Gary Duncan
Duncan gave practical advice about color, fabrics and texture in creating your worship environment.
Demystifying Building Codes
with Craig Mullins
Mullins helped participants understand why building codes can be helpful and should be understood as minimum requirements. He discussed the relationship between meeting/ surpassing codes during the building process and cost savings later. Mullins offered practical advice on understanding how to navigate building code resources and make sense of building code categories.
Design-Bid-Build and Design-Build: Comparing Construction Delivery Methods
with Craig Mullins, Keith Crouch, and Glen Bell
This workshop was a panel discussion about construction delivery methods. The panelists described two models to help participants get a picture of what each looks like. They discussed the pros and cons of the two methods. Which is the best? Panelists agree this depends upon the project and the congregation. Each project is unique.
Dos and Don’ts: Developing Successful Congregation Building Projects
with Jerry Cripps and Lee White
Cripps and White offered many Do’s and Don’ts, including: Do plan and pray; Do let professionals do their jobs; Do put people on the Building Committee who are mature in their faith; Don’t over-build.
Historic Sacred Space: Restoring Beauty and Respecting Legacy
with Wanda King
King discussed legacy, history and congregation. She emphasized the importance of dealing with professionals. She discussed the importance of information gathering, renovation versus restoration, and uniting the old with the new.
Imagine This: A Virtual Tour of the Ideal Jewish Place of Worship
with Richard Vosko
Vosko told participants that congregations serve people, develop programs to do that, and build to house the programs. Look at your space. What are you doing that is good? How well are you doing it? Could your facility be shared? Vosko emphasized that the entry into a sacred space is important – it represents a journey. This gateway is important, followed by a gathering space.
Keeping the “Team” in Building Teams
with Sue Nienaber
Nienaber led an interactive workshop, discussing with participants the positive and negative aspects of a team. She talked about working effectively as a team by writing a mission statement, setting goals, conducting effective meetings, communication, etc.
Maintenance of Your Sacred Space
with Tuomi Forrest and Bob Jaeger
Forrest and Jaeger gave practical advice on maintaining congregational facilities. Designated persons from the congregation should visually inspect the entire building each season of the year. Water can be very destructive to a building – always watch for signs of water. Inspect during a rainstorm to see that water is really being conducted away from the building. Use binoculars to look at the building from top to bottom. Every ten to 15 years, congregations need to invest in a conditions survey, which is a professional overview of building conditions with a prioritized list of recommended repairs.
New Movements in Church Architecture
with Keith Crouch
Crouch outlined some contemporary trends in congregational architecture. Trends include: Giving students their own unique space; Movable motorized panels to separate rooms and spaces; Theme décor; Gathering spaces; Audio-visual-lighting-media; Purchase of existing facilities rather than new construction; Multiple use of facilities; “Experience” spaces, such as places for youth, skate parks, etc. Crouch told participants that congregations relocating can spend 33-50% of total cost for site development – water, sewage, streets, etc. The minimum parking required by municipalities is NOT enough parking space for worship facilities. Congregations need to have 1 parking space for every 2 worship attendees. Congregations with one worship service can expect to one usable acre per 100 – 125 worship attendees. Congregations with multiple worship and Bible study periods need one usable acre per 175 – 200 worship attendees.
Our Stories, God's Story, and Places of Grace
with Jon Pahl
Sacred space is to acquaint people with a sense of transcendence and to focus their attention, Pahl told participants. He presented ideas for congregational discerning, such as interviewing congregants about their experiences of grace, travel to lunch at a foreign restaurant and then visit a sacred place of that tradition, and gather congregational history. Pahl recommended translating personal experiences through stories, relating them to scripture and transferring that to the building.
So You Need to Raise Some Money
with Tuomi Forrest and Bob Jaeger
This workshop gave participants practical advice about fundraising, outside sources of support and working together as a congregation. Through role-playing and clear, concise dialogue, Forrest and Jaeger shared information on case statements, donations, consensus, professional fundraisers, goals and plans.
Spiritual Discernment and Planning
with Alice Mann
Mann recommended participants look at their spiritual heritage. She discussed examples of spiritual disciplines to be used in discernment, such as centering prayer. Congregation members should use their imaginations, play and draw in the discerning and planning process.
Step by Step: Sage Advice for Those Who Desire to be Good Stewards
with Richard Vosko
Managing the tension between quality, quantity and budget, congregations can follow some simple steps to being good stewards of their building projects. Vosko offered advice for congregations embarking on a building project – organize, study, create a feasibility study and master plan, fundraising, select artists, etc. The discerning state should continue throughout the process, he said. Communicate with the congregation at every step.
The Role of Simplicity in Sacred Space
with Micah Marty
An acclaimed photographer of sacred spaces, Marty shared photos of faith buildings from around the world. He told participants that natural light is vital to a sacred space, form follows functionality, space for people is important, sacred space works for community, and simplicity is being single-minded in order to focus on the main thing.
The Third Place: Cafes for Community
with Ed Bahler
Bahler presented fresh ideas on how to envision congregational space and using space as a welcoming tool. He discussed trends, generational differences and development of space. Participants learned that it is possible for congregations to create a space that is relevant to the community without hindering their spiritual growth.
Your Building Speaks
with Tim Shapiro
Shapiro provided insights on sacred spaces and exercises in discerning what spaces say. He provided information on the connection between vision, mission, ministries and building, and left participants with ways to evaluate how their buildings speak and what they are saying.