Cornerstone Conference Sneak-Peak - "Create Connecting Space"

Written By Mel McGowan, President and Founder of Visioneering Studios

When you think about building a church in America, we typically feel like we have one of two options/paradigms. The first is to create something that meets the conventional definition and expectation of “sacred space.” Church architects often seem to draw from the same “toolkit” in creating this traditionalist church environment, typically employing the following techniques, designed to artificially induce aMariners Church - Photo courtesy of Visioneering Studios physiological / emotional sense of “sacred”:

• Ascending stairs or a ramp
• Extensive use of natural light
• Stained glass windows
• Steeples / spires

The second option/paradigm, which has been popularized in the Church Growth movement, but has American roots in the austere Quaker meetinghouses, is the minimal functionalist model. The logic behind this approach, particularly popular amongst Evangelical churches, may either be a) financial stewardship in reaction against perceived opulence of traditional sacred spaces, or b) a desire to present a “seeker sensitive” secular appearance in order to disallow religious iconography to “get in the way” of unadorned gospel.

Increasingly, both of these paradigms are being challenged.

Throughout history, God has shown Himself to be passionate about community, from the eternal relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to the “good” environment He createdThe LAB / Rock Harbor - Photo courtesy of Visioneering Studios in the Garden, to the intentional wilderness camp layout, and on to the City of Heaven.  A key aspect of God’s architecture of community has been environments that simultaneously facilitate horizontal connection between people, as well as vertical connection with Him.  In America, we have “neutered” the word “community” by divorcing it from the concept of place (eg. the “Gay community,” an internet “virtual community”). However, when we get back to the original definition of “church” as “Ekklesia”, we rediscover that the intersection of “place” and “people” matter to God.

New typologies and paradigms which move beyond the impoverished theology of the traditionalist or functionalist model are being created as churches around the world are recognizing that in order to most effectively reach their community, new approaches may be necessary which have more in common with missionary strategies:

• Understand and distill the unique cultural context and flavor of the community
• Build on the unique sense of calling, purpose, and giftedness of the called
• Take advantage of – rather than ignore—God’s architecture (natural context, landforms, hydrology, climate, etc)
• Recognize that at the core of what we do is telling the “story” of the Gospel in a relevant, compelling way

Despite spending twice as much money on church walls, the American church is losing ground and on its way to becoming a post-Christian nation. In charting a new course, or a “third option”, we have come to the conviction that church walls have actually become the biggest obstacles separating Church Crossroads Christian Schools - Photo courtesy of Visioneering Studiosfrom the community, the lost and the found, and the truth from those who need it the most.  Clues to a new direction are found in God’s provision of the Court of the Gentiles, Paul’s ability to point people to Christ through the cultural connection at Mars Hill, and Christ’s ability to meet a Samaritan woman as she was trying to get a bucket of water at Jacob’s Well.  She would never have made it to Jerusalem, to the Temple and the Most Holy Place. God came to her at the community watering hole. In the same way, today we can create postmodern wells which serve living water in environments that can function as a much needed spiritual, social, and cultural “heart” of the community.

Perhaps more architects and pastors are called to be “well-diggers” than “temple-builders.”

Join Mel at ALIGNMENT4 and find out for yourself how to make your church space count.

If you would like more information about the upcoming ALIGNMENT4 conference or to register, simply visit www.cornerstoneconferences.com or call 888-595-7360.