How can a church keep going in the midst of a big building renovation? Here are three steps to consider.
If you've ever worked on a home renovation, you know how chaotic it can be. Noise, dust, budgets, dumpsters, using your bathroom sink as your kitchen sink, "cooking" out of a microwave because you have no kitchen and so on! Just Google "home renovation," and you'll find countless posts about budgets, how to survive, when renovations end in divorce ... you get the picture. To say it's stressful is an understatement. Now, imagine a renovation to your existing church building where you still need to have services each Sunday, but your sanctuary is torn up, hallways are closed down and some areas require hard hats. How do you keep doing church in the midst of a mess?
- Plan ahead
A building renovation doesn't have to send you into a stressful mood for the duration. Walk into the renovation with a plan, knowing that it will flex. Work on your building will not happen concurrently. There are phases and stages that impact your operational needs. Think through logistics of how the renovations will impact your employees, volunteers and weekend service attendees. Perhaps your staff has to work remotely for a few days per week during the renovation. Perhaps that ministry can have their meetings offsite. How/when will you adjust your normal schedule to accommodate the renovation? Keep the plan robust but loose! We recommend utilizing Basecamp or another online project management tool to keep track of all the details.
- Create a communications plan
Renovations add a layer to your regularly scheduled communications and should be targeted/customized toward employees, church members and vendors/suppliers. Provide timelines, instructions, updates, photos, videos and blog posts to keep everyone well-informed. When in doubt, over-communicate. Don't forget to utilize all your communications channels online and in print.
- Be flexible and have fun!
Just prepare yourself that there will be tension. From weather delays and backorders to stressed emotions and hurt feelings, the chaos from a renovation can send anyone into a tailspin. If you're striving for perfection, you'll be disappointed, so approach changes with humility and grace! Your project won't derail when there's a hiccup. You may lose a little sleep, but that's normal. Don't forget to make your renovation fun! Plan a hard hat tour for employees and volunteers. Engage your members to be a part of the renovation by signing floors, walls and doorways (which will later be covered) with the names of the people they are praying will come to know Christ. Their names will literally be written on the thresholds. How cool!
If your church is considering a renovation or new building, we recommend connecting with our friends at the Aspen Group, a ministry-focused, integrated design, build and furnish firm with more than a decade of experience serving churches. They work throughout the Midwest and Southeast from offices in Indianapolis, Illinois and South Carolina. They will be holding a free Pastor's Lunch September 16, 2016, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Maggiano’s, 3550 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240. Click here to register.
