Gotta love free advice

My apologies for the delay in posting. I had a good reason. I was having fun skiing in Jasper.

I was very encouraged by our meeting with Michael Boreskie of the United Church of Canada's Architectural Resource Group. He was genuinely excited about the task we've taken on, and had some very nice things to say about our church community and the steps we've taken so far.

I had expected an architect to spend most of his time talking about the technical aspects of a church building. I was surprised and delighted with the emphasis that Michael put on how the building should reflect our calling. He proposes a three step approach to building renewal, and suggested that we answer these three questions.

1. Who are we in God?


2. How do live out who we are in God?


3. What facilities do we need to live out who we are in God?

Our recently developed Mission, Vision, and Goals help us answer the first question and part of the second question. We will need to flesh this out, and will be distributing a questionnaire to all of the church committees. I've started working on this - really I have.

Once we've fully answered the first two questions, it will be easier to answer the third one. And question 3 is our whole raison d'être.

I had sent Michael some of our congregation's recently developed strategic planning material, plus some background material on what TMUC is all about. He was fairly impressed that we had recently gone through this process, and that that was the impetus behind getting the task force under way.

Having read the background material, and formed an opinion of our character, Michael had some interesting and candid comments after touring our building. It was difficult for him to reconcile the things we had identified as important in our strategic plan with the structure of the building. We are an active, progressive congregation that is moving boldly into the 21st century, but we're housed in this traditional, mid 20th century structure.

Reassuring for me that we're right to be asking the questions we're asking at this time.

Michael had some very good practical advice on how we should evaluate our existing space and its utility. We'll use the tools he's given us to help us decide how much space we really need, and how that space should be configured.

We're also a little (or a lot) smarter now with regards to the challenges we would face should we decide to renovate our existing building. We had speculated on the effect that major renovations would have on our compliance with various building codes and zoning requirements. Michael was able to confirm some of this speculation, and put some of it to rest.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention our other featured guest at this meeting. Jeff Cook provided us with some valuable insight into the wide variety of worship spaces that he encounter while on sabbatical last year. We heard of worship spaces that ranged from no space at all - the virtual church, rented facilities, worship in a coffee house, churches that incorporate coffee houses, non-traditional worship in a very traditional cathedral, and worship in a sanctuary that could seat hundreds and hundreds of people.

A few things that Jeff encountered struck a chord as things that would appeal to our congregation. The thing that seemed to fit best with us was to have a meeting place that was attached to the sanctuary where people could socialize before and after services. He witnessed this in several churches and felt that this sort of scenario would fit our community very well.

It was a pleasure meeting with Michael and a pleasure hearing Jeff's insights. Michael kindly offered to return at some time when we're further along in the process. If you're reading this Michael, rest assured that I will take you up on that offer.

That's all for now. I'll post again later this week.

See you in church.