Young Worshippers Offer Churches New Life in the Present and Hope for a Brighter Future

Younger generations bring new and fresh energy to churches. Their joy and enthusiasm are contagious, and they make the church a happier and healthier place to be for worshippers of all ages.  Unfortunately, church attendance among young people has been in decline for quite some time. In a recent
Deseret News/Marist national poll, only 21 percent of people in the 18 to 29 age group said they were attending church regularly, which was the lowest percentage among any demographic group. The list of those who are not going to services includes many who accompanied their families to church during their adolescent years, but stopped going once they were out in the world on their own.

A sizable percentage of younger people who’ve fallen away from worshipping would like to attend church again, at some point. But they wonder if they will be accepted and embraced by the congregation. Church buildings that are old, outdated and clearly in need of updating or renovation present a negative
image that gives the impression that the church communities that occupy them are not keeping up with the times.

Young adults (and adults of all ages, truthfully) are drawn to church campuses that look inviting and promise to provide an immersive spiritual experience for the whole family. The architectural and design qualities of the church play a tremendous role in creating a warm, welcoming and inspiring atmosphere, as
do basic choices about which type of spaces to build and prioritize. Whatever the reasons for the decline in attendance, churches need to find ways to bring young adults back. They are the key to any church’s
revitalization.

The hopeful part of this story is that churches can offer a future growth and personality. Again, a new, image-conscious building or campus is so important in the effort to attract young members to identify with your church.  Listed below are some additional tips to help your church signify with young people.

Church Architecture: My 26th Year, and Going Strong

I’ve been a church architect going on 26 years now, and as the saying goes time flies when you’re having fun.

For me, this profession is a passion and a calling. It’s exciting to know that your work has had a significant impact on the worshipping experience of many different church communities, and to realize what you’ve learned about this specialized architectural field can be applied to enhance peoples’ feelings of connection with God.

At the same time, this work is also humbling. In the final analysis the architect is only one of many contributors who bring a church into being. You can create a space that’s exactly customized to your client’s needs and desires, and capable of evoking profound emotional reactions. Yet without the passionate enthusiasm of the church members, and the committed service of pastors, staff, and administrators, even the most elaborately designed and aesthetically pleasing structures would be devoid of spirit.

Church architects can design and build beautiful churches, but only people can bring them to life. In recent years I’ve been blessed to be involved in the construction of expansive campus projects designed to serve large and growing church communities. On these jobs the idea is to construct church facilities that can comfortably serve thousands of attendees on a single day, yet still offer an intimate and satisfying spiritual experience to the individual worshipper. I’ve also seen and participated in the transformation in church construction that has de-emphasized single-use facilities in favor of multi-purpose buildings, a necessary change as churches strive to stay viable by meeting a broader range of community needs.

The challenges change as church architecture evolves and diversifies. But the essential and timeless elements of the profession remain unaltered, as does the church architect’s primary responsibility. As a church architect you are a facilitator, tasked to turn a church community’s vision for their future into reality. You take your guidance from church leaders and members, and then unleash all the creative powers you have to put together a building plan that will help translate their dreams into reality—whatever those dreams might happen to be.

At its best the church architect’s work represents a true example of God’s inspiration at work in the real world. Knowing that I’m acting as a vessel for such powerful and virtuous forces is a wonderful feeling, and it is one I’ve been fortunate to experience time and time again for the past quarter century.

Perfecting the Art of Mega-Church Construction

At Siebenlist Architects we've been given the opportunity to complete large design and construction projects of churches nationally. We’re actually on the verge of finishing one of these projects, and despite the enormous challenges involved in such a task we’re delighted with the results that have been achieved.  It's been a true honor to be involved in this type of work, knowing that we're aiding a church community that wants to serve more people ready to hear God's message.

A Few Principles of Large Church Construction

A large church functions as a community landmark that from sheer size alone will stand out from the surrounding landscape. It must therefore enhance and harmonize with that landscape, as something visually arresting and aesthetically pleasing. Its presence should evoke a sense of pride in the larger community, while drawing a favorable response from both prospective and existing church members.

Form and function must be seamlessly blended in a large church, so that the latter does not in any way detract from the former. In other words, mega-churches should be beautiful and user-friendly at the same time, creating the most inviting, pleasurable and memorable worshiping experience possible for those who attend services there.  

Technology and the Mega-Church

Digital communications technology Is a critically important aspect of large church design and church architects must design auditoriums with technology in mnd.   State of the art audio, video, and lighting systems are specified to make sure virtual worship comes as close as possible to recreating the in-person experience. 

Online services should be recognized as the next-best thing to being there, and church architects have some role to play in guaranteeing they are viewed in this light. This challenge is heightened for architects designing mega-churches, since the number of people attending their virtual services would fill the pews to overflowing at more modestly-sized houses of worship. 

At larger churches, the bigger-than-normal scale can create access issues that digital communications technology can be used to resolve. Some worshipers may be very far away from the stage when sermons are being delivered or during concerts, and at certain times they may not be in the main auditorium at all. 

At Siebenlist Architects we know this can be a problem.  To avoid such difficulties, we custom-design every large church campus with universal access as a primary goal. 

As an example, in our about-to-finish mega-church project a 65-foot LED video wall was specified in the worship center. The system also includes the ability to add hologram technology to provide three-dimensional imagery of church presentations that all members will be able to view. 

Innovations like these are not luxury flourishes. They are necessities that ensure congregation members who come to larger churches can fully enjoy the worshiping experience.

Regardless of the Size, a Church is a Community

No matter how large a church campus may be, those who come to services should still feel closely connected to their fellow worshippers, their pastor, and the church family. Everything must be done on a grand scale, but the sense of community that is supposed to define a church should not be lost. 

A properly designed mega-church Is not a warehouse for people. An expert church architect understands this, which Is why we strive to design buildings and outdoor public areas that are cheery, comfortable, accessible, and adaptable. Every room, space, and facility on campus should allow for a peaceful and intimate human experience. As congregation members move from one space to another they should never feel overwhelmed, isolated, or like just another face in the crowd.

There is no magic formula for accomplishing this other than decades of experience by the church architect. The defining thing we try to do at Siebenlist Architects is pay meticulous attention to the worshiper experience so that every detail is built for the personal and spiritual needs of individual worshippers but also the higher purpose of the ministry. 

A Challenge Worth Tackling

From a logistical standpoint designing and building a large or mega-church represents an enormous undertaking, as we know from our experience. The list of tasks you must juggle each day can be extensive, and on a project that takes many months to complete there are more opportunities for things to go wrong. This is why experience is so important. Churches that decide to build a large-scale church are wise to choose a church architect who has tackled many projects of all sizes and all complexity levels, and preferably on multiple occasions. 

All church building projects are rewarding. But the feeling you get when you're able to finish a mega-church is quite special. These are memorable projects for us, as the process of assembling all the pieces of such a large and complex puzzle is humbling and rewarding. Meeting the challenge takes creative vision, scrupulous planning, seamless execution, resolve to deal with problems to solve, and a commitment to building a constructive partnership between the architect and the church that will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.  When all these requirements are met, a successful conclusion that satisfies everyone is the result for which we are all grateful.

Siebenlist Architects Celebrates 25 Years in Business

This September marks the 25th anniversary of Siebenlist Architects, Inc.'s professional practice. It certainly doesn't feel like we've been in business for 25 years. I've discovered that time flies by when you love what you do and are inspired by every project you undertake. Helping congregations build the churches of their dreams is incredibly satisfying and motivating work. At this point, I can't imagine another career choice that would have given me a greater sense of accomplishment.

From humble beginnings in Texas, we've been able to expand our practice across the southern half of the United States (we're certified nationally and currently licensed in 17 states). Siebenlist Architects has completed more than 100 church construction, renovation, and remodeling projects over these past 25 years. Each of those finished projects remains a source of pride for every member of the Siebenlist team.

Learning the Secrets of Building Great Churches

Church architecture is a specialized field that offers unique challenges. For me, that is what makes it so rewarding. Each renovation, remodeling, expansion, or new construction project brings new excitement, and as long as that sense of excitement remains, Siebenlist Architects will keep going strong.

For 25 years and working on dozens of projects of all sizes, I've learned a lot about the creative process and how it should proceed within a spiritual context. In line with that experience and the knowledge we've acquired, at Siebenlist Architects, we put the most significant emphasis on:

+   Collaboration… From conception through completion, church leaders, administrators, and worshippers should be involved in planning, offering advice and input at each stage. The architect's job is to implement their vision in the most comprehensive way possible, and that is only possible if their guidance is sought out, understood, and respected and followed.

 +   Problem-solving… Many real-world considerations can impact a church building program. Complications can arise at any point during the planning and construction stages, from the time the architect begins working on the master plan until the time when the construction is ready for launching, and of course, at any time after that. In this business, you have to enjoy solving problems and have confidence in your ability to do so.

+   Budgeting… The construction of a new church should be one of the most exciting times in a church community's life. Nothing would ruin the experience faster than having a project come in over budget, and that's a contingency we always avoid at Siebenlist. A new church should be a delight, not a burden, and our respect for each community's budgetary requirements guarantees that it will be.

 +   Learning… You're never so wise and experienced that you stop learning no matter how long you're in this business. The architect must be ready to put ego and preconceived notions aside, to maintain a creative edge, and to be prepared to absorb new knowledge as the business evolves. Each new project has the potential to teach you something, as long as you're humble and paying attention.

 +   Originality… We operate on the premise that no two churches should be built precisely alike. If they're to serve the entire needs of their congregations properly, they literally can't be exactly alike because each church body has its unique personality and requirements. Church architects must constantly flex their creative muscles as they move from project to project while maintaining allegiance to the best elements of tradition.

 +   Master planning… A thoroughly creative, flexible and well-thought-out master plan is essential in any church construction, remodeling, or expansion project. Every aspect of the project should be planned for and considered before work begins to make sure the project stays on target and fully meets every need of the church community occupying the new or renovated church campus.

We treat each project as if it is the most important one we've ever done. We do that because each project is the most important one we've ever done. We try to get each one exactly right, and our professionalism and perfectionism have helped us build a reputation for excellence in this industry.

The Next 25 Years

In the 2020s and beyond, new trends will undoubtedly guide church construction practices in new and fascinating directions. 

In church architecture, multi-purpose is a very popular solution for initial or phase 1 type projects. In the future, architects will be working to devise creative and ingenious ways to build super-flexible structures yet still sturdily designed and aesthetically pleasing. With the arrival of online services to complement traditional in-person attendance, new and renovated churches will have to function as reasonable staging grounds for televised services while still offering an intimate in-person worshipping experience. More large and even mega-churches are likely to be commissioned and constructed in the coming years, for which church architects must design all the traditional components of church attendance in addition to the new dimensions and technology developed over the last few years. As always, these designs must be user-friendly and welcoming facilities rather than austere and uninspiring. 

Other developments that spur evolution in church design and construction may become unexpectedly. But all outcomes, whether anticipated or not, should be an opportunity for creative and dedicated church architects to promote and enhance increasing attendance and popularity of today's church and worship experience. 

In church architecture, the need to innovate is constant. Our continued success at Siebenlist Architects will entirely depend on our capacity to adapt our approach to the times (and, as always, to the needs of each client). That is what we've been doing for the past 25 years, and I see no reason to believe that will change in the years ahead.

Why In-Person Worship is Fundamental to the Churchgoing Experience

As many of us discovered, online worshipping offers a suitable alternative to in-person church services. Without it, the past year would have been even more difficult. Still, online isn't the same as in-person worship, and it can never be. While virtual services somewhat capture the vibrancy of in-person attendance, it can't recreate it completely.

 Something is lost when you have no choice but to worship exclusively outside the usual church environment, we're most familiar with and profoundly cherish. There's no substitute for encountering face-to-face greetings and the warm embraces they often provide. You cannot experience virtually the sensation felt in person when the first chords of music are played, and the congregation joins in. The absence is particularly profound if you happen to be a choir member, director, or one of the many musicians who faithfully contribute to church services and music programs.  

 Undoubtedly, you will also miss the wonderful ambiance of the church sanctuary which adds a spiritual depth and meaning that can only be experienced sitting in a pew, walking through the vestibule, or sharing a meal in the social hall and observing the delight of children. That spiritually uplifting atmosphere is a gift from God delivered by church architects, who meticulously create building or remodeling plans that respect traditional models but are also fully customized to meet the modern needs of each church community.

 Speaking as a church architect, I can say the primary mission is to build structures that will touch and inspire people and families. The church is fundamental to how we live, and it is our church home and community, usually for generations. Church architects strive to build churches that are a joy to visit, and when they succeed, the entire church body reaps the rewards.  

Online is Great, but In-Person is Even Better

No one should minimize the importance of online services. They've kept churches open during the pandemic and allowed worshippers to continue practicing the spiritual and religious traditions that are vital. 

 For now, they will remain a superb option for those who are unable to attend an in-person service. Virtual services may have even provided pastors and church administrators with innovative digital recordings and broadcasting technology to reach new or shut-in members. The willingness of church leaders to find creative ways for their members to participate remotely indicates how deeply they value the entire church body and the sacredness of the experience. These are good arguments in favor of online worshipping. 

 Gathering and connecting in person is more powerful than clicking a link to connect ever will. The vital energy that occurs when people join together and occupy the same space can't be experienced virtually. There's nothing like joining together with an entire congregation attending a beautiful church service, prayer, and sermon, not to mention listening to the most inspiring music imaginable. The past 18 months have been challenging to bear despite how necessary they may have been. Everyone has been looking forward to the restrictions being lifted to return to their everyday routines. This means being free to go where they usually go and meet and socialize with friends, family members, and neighbors. This strong desire to get out and be with people in friendly, uplifting, and familiar environments couldn't be more accurate, especially in church environments. Online options are great to have, but they won't satisfy the longing that most of us desire to return to our church homes among our church families.

 A Timeless Architecture 

Church architects are in the process of adjusting to the new normal. We're producing master plans for new churches that will be online-friendly, making it easy for churches to record or live stream their services with good lighting, sound, and visual background.

But whatever adjustments this entails, our fundamental responsibility will remain the same: To create warm and inviting spaces where people can congregate in a house where the Holy Spirit can be felt as a living presence.

 People have been attending church in person for centuries, welcoming the opportunity to be a part of a spiritual social community. As a place of fellowship, the church offers one of life's most exhilarating and timeless experiences, one that is as important to the faithful in the 21st century as it was to worshippers who came to sit in the pews of the great cathedrals hundreds of years ago.

The Return of In-Person Church Services: Will Things Ever Be the Same?

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the Pew Research Center conducted a national survey measuring churchgoing practices. By that time, in the summer of 2020, about one-third of all American adults had watched church services online. This included 18 percent who’d never attended online services before the pandemic and 15 percent who’d begun attending virtual church services earlier.

Interestingly, 91 percent of these individuals were satisfied with the virtual religious experience. However, only five percent of the churchgoing public said they planned to choose online services over in-person services once the pandemic was over.

For the most part, it seems American churchgoers were pleased about having the opportunity to witness religious services online at a time when public gatherings were being discouraged.

But their ultimate desire is to return to the pews. They see going to church as a social activity, where they can spend quality time with friends, neighbors, and family members enjoying a spiritually uplifting atmosphere.

The Arrival of a New Normal

While many churches are opening again, things aren’t back to where they were just yet. The return to normal will be a gradual process, as peoples’ comfort level rises and their desire to participate in in-person services grows. Eventually, everyone will be back in their familiar spots in their favorite churches, attending in-person services as often as they can.

But the virtual church service is clearly here to stay. It will remain a primary choice for a few, and an attractive occasional alternative for many others.

Inevitably, many people are going to come to appreciate the flexibility that online services can provide, more than they realize right now. They will want to use them, even if they’re able and willing to come back to their church once it is fully open again.

Now that virtual church services have been introduced, occasionally even the most dedicated in-person worshipper is likely to choose the online option on days when the weather is bad, or when they’re not feeling well, or when their usual ride to the church is not available.

In the short-term, people experienced the move to online services as a disruption. They generally liked what they saw and experienced during virtual services. But it was still a disappointing and frustrating situation, because people’s freedom of choice had been taken away.

In the future, that will no longer be the case. Virtual services will fill a valuable niche and be appreciated by everyone for what they provide.

(Re)Imagining the Church of the Future

For someone who specializes in church architecture, It has been difficult for me to see churches I designed stay empty and silent for a such long period. People are being denied the opportunity to gather in lovingly crafted houses of worship that were custom-built to provide them with satisfying and memorable spiritual experiences.

Nevertheless, online church services were an identifiable trend, long before the pandemic broke out. This was an inevitable development, given the overall direction of society.

The pandemic kept people away against their will, that is true. But it also sped up the process of evolution considerably. No matter how anyone feels there will be no turning back, not completely.

Ultimately, this will be a good thing, given the flexibility people will soon be enjoying. Once things return to normal, worshippers will be able to attend church online when life situations require it, but still be able to come and experience live, in-person services in the company of friends, neighbors, and family whenever they’d like.

In the new environment, where flexibility will be prized, the adjustments church leaders and architects must make will be essentially the same.

Each side must prepare to meet the needs of a mixed congregation (online and in-person). Churches will always be social spaces, first and foremost. But they’ll have a secondary function as staging environments that allow content producers to put on a good show for the folks sitting in at home. And the people who do come to attend in-person will want to feel safe and secure, meaning they won’t want to be crowded into overly cramped rooms or seating areas with poor ventilation.

There are many considerations that church architects and church leaders must take into account, as they plan new construction and renovation projects. Churches everywhere are likely to be fully open for in-person worship services very soon. But the expanded audience will still include a significant number of online attendees. In fact, overall total attendance may rise, as a more flexible approach brings new members to the congregation and makes it easier for past members to be there (in one way or another) every week.

Moving forward, church architects will try to create master plans that account for all possibilities, while still staying within limited budgets. It will take a lot of skill and creativity to make it work. But just like always, the most innovative professionals will rise to the challenge, developing ingenious solutions that satisfy church leaders and congregation members alike.

The result will be new churches that fill people with joy whenever they step inside, but still, leave them feeling inspired and uplifted when they can only attend services from a distance.

Encouraging Congregational Growth through Online Visitors Programs

During the Covid-19 pandemic, churches have discovered that the virtual church experience can be a valuable tool to attract visitors.

Many churches have created active and innovative visitors programs that do an outstanding job of helping them solicit new members. They’ve turned the whole process into an artform, making newcomers feel welcome and accepted while offering an invitation that is compelling and highly effective.

But there may be a ceiling on how effective a traditional visitors program can be. Inevitably, there is a cookie cutter aspect to such a program that will not be right for every potential new congregation member.  

Much has been made about how online services are changing the church attendance experience. It would seem likely that an online visitors initiative could have the same positive impact, if designed and implemented with thought and care.

Why Virtual Visitors Programs Would Work

There are several reasons why someone may be reluctant to take an in-person visit at a new church:

·      Many people are introverted and aren’t comfortable being doted on, guided around, or made the center of attention. They would prefer to check things out on their own, observing from a distance and possibly asking an occasional question here or there.

·      Some people would feel guilty about being “unfaithful” to their old church. They might be afraid someone would see them and that word would get back to their current church.

·      They might rely on others to drive them to church, which can make it difficult to visit elsewhere. Most visitor’s programs will offer a driver’s service in this situation, but the prospective new member might feel awkward in that type of context (introversion or shyness making itself felt again).

·      Some people would like to investigate a new church, but don’t want to be stuck onsite for an hour-and-a-half or more if they don’t like what they see.

·      In some instances, there may be one or more family members that want to make a change, while others don’t think they’re ready. This can make it difficult to coordinate an in-person visit.

·      Some people may be interested in attending church primarily online. Consequently, the in-person visitors program might not seem relevant to their interests and concerns.

In each instance, it is easy to see the advantages of an online visitor’s package. This could include private monitoring of church services, plus the opportunity to ask questions of virtual guides or greeters who could be consulted as often or as little as the visitor prefers. Chats or video calls after services with pastors or administrators could be included in the package as well.

In general, the more access and interactivity provided, the more effective and popular the online visitors program would likely be.

Better for Churchgoers and Better for Churches, Too

Churches that organize well-crafted online visitors packages will be in a position to meet the needs of all current and future members. What is attractive for those who prefer to visit in person (a strong social element) might be intimidating for others, who might prefer to get to know what a church has to offer from a distance. Remote video visits are a less intensive method for visiting. If they go well, they can always be followed up by an in-person visit later on.

An introverted person who has gotten to know the church and some of its membership or leadership in a virtual environment will be ahead of the game. They will feel more comfortable when they do make that first in-person visit, or attend services onsite for the initial time.

Online visitors programs would be advantageous for churches as well. They would broaden the appeal of a church’s outreach efforts, making them more suitable for a wider range of potential members. Churches would be offering a more customized visitors experience, giving those interested in visiting more of an opportunity to choose the terms of their initial contacts.

How Virtual Growth Leads to Real Growth

In church architecture, flexibility has become the new watchword. Modern churches should be designed in a way that makes them suitable for a wide range of activities, including the transmission of virtual services.

Flexibility is just as ideal for visitors programs. Adding variety and adaptability to such programs will make it possible to accommodate far more new potential members on a single Sunday than ever before.

Few churchgoers, when polled, say they expect to attend church exclusively online. They’ve appreciated having the option during the pandemic. Many will likely take advantage of it in the future on occasion. But ultimately, regardless of how impressed they are by a virtual visit, most new arrivals to a congregation are likely to prefer attending church in-person the majority of the time.

Adopting an online visitors program would not signal a church’s surrender to greater dependence on virtual attendance. It would simply indicate a church’s determination to be more inventive and people-smart in the strategies they use to reach more souls.

Online church services and online visitors programs both add a new element to the churchgoing experience. Nevertheless, expert church architects will continue building structures that are suitable for large turnouts. They know that most churchgoers appreciate the social aspects of in-person attendance and feel more spiritually connected when they can experience the fellowship personally.

When churches are prepared to interact with congregation members and visitors in varied ways, it shows they have the best interests of their membership at heart. This attention to detail will always be much appreciated, as it reveals to both in-person and virtual visitors that they’re attending services at a church that truly cares about their needs and preferences.

Multi-Purpose: The 21st Century Church Exemplified

When you first heard the term multi-purpose used in connection with your church, it may have sounded revolutionary. A cutting-edge buzzword that trained professionals understood and experienced church leaders were ready and willing to embrace.

At one time, the term multi-purpose represented something fresh and bold in church architecture. That was especially the case in the 80s and 90s when church construction projects first began to include structures flexible enough for a multitude of uses. 

Those early multi-purpose buildings were often pretty basic. Many were simple gymnasiums. But the function was more important than the form. It was clear from then on that multi-purpose structures would remain a fixture on modern church campuses. 

While it might date me a little, I remember those heady times quite well. Without a doubt, everyone was convinced that the multi-use concept would unlock the hidden potential in churches. Multi-purpose was at the leading edge of church design and operation.

And it still is. Even after all this time, the multi-purpose concept is the territory that innovative architects and forward-thinking pastors, and church leaders are most anxious to explore.

Why Multi-Purpose Makes Sense

Multi-purpose isn’t a new term anymore. Incorporating multi-purpose space is normal in church construction. Whether the idea was first developed for churches, it has blossomed more fully in the church context than with any other type of multi-purpose commercial building. Multi-purpose may not be new, but it is inherently open and invites a creative approach.

Churches choose multi-purpose buildings for many reasons. They are versatile, enabling new or expanding churches to spend time defining the scope and range of their ministries before committing to specific-use buildings (schools, administration, sanctuaries, cafeterias, recreational rooms, etc.). Multi-purpose buildings are easier to construct and use more common materials. This speeds up construction time frames and keeps expenses down. Churches that start with multi-purpose buildings can continue with their ministries and other core operations while raising more funds to facilitate future expansion.  

This is the type of multi-purpose building that has been so strongly associated with church development. This is the multi-purpose concept we’ve come to know and deeply appreciate.

But there is more to it. For me, the multi-purpose building functions as a model for other church structures. That is why I am always excited to work on these buildings.

With multi-purpose buildings, there is more going on than meets the eye.

Making a Masterful Master Plan

Through space and time, the mission and the message of the church remain the same. But methodologies and strategies do evolve.

Cultural, generational, and technological changes all impact the ministry. Churches strive to position themselves as adaptable mainstream institutions, which means they must embrace change and treat is as an ally.

Church leaders are on the lookout for new and more flexible solutions. Ideally, they’d like the entire church campus to be as versatile as the multi-purpose building. They’d like to support an expansive menu of dynamic and unique services, to the church community and the community as a whole.

This desire is reflected in master planning. Master planning is now common for all categories of venue, including schools, government facilities, retail buildings, commercial facilities, corporate headquarters, manufacturing plants, and so on. However, master planning for churches is a specialized category with wholly unique aspects.

When a church decides to add a wing for new classrooms or community meeting rooms, build a bigger kitchen, install an LED video wall, increase their auditorium seating capacity, or install a rooftop or ground-mounted solar panel array, that is not master planning. That is expansion.

When a church architect is designing a master plan, they must never forget that churches regularly expand or alter the scope and nature of their services. Master planning is scenario-oriented, meaning it must anticipate possible future developments—like expansion plans—and incorporate potential solutions upfront. 

A good master plan looks ahead, and a top-flight master planner plans ahead.

Master Planning for the Future

Fortunately, church leaders in 2021 know the importance of master planning. None would suggest proceeding without one.

The church architectural firm will try to create a satisfactory, carefully customized master plan that is unique to a church’s site and congregation. To do this, the plan designers must thoroughly understand the ministries and services the church offers today. But they must also know what ministries and services the church hope to offer in the future. Over the next 10 months or 10 years, and possibly even longer than that.

Can the pastor and church leaders identify the services they plan to provide in the future? If so, how far into the future will they have planned? 

Most church leaders probably haven’t thought very far ahead. Ask them to reflect on where they thought their church might be headed five years ago, and the chances are none of them would have guessed that virtual services would become all the rage, and that all churches would need to prepare to serve their members online. They likely wouldn’t have guessed exactly which community organizations would ask to use their facilities for conferences, meetings, or informal gatherings. 

So, the problem this creates is obvious. If it’s impossible to predict future developments, how can the designers of a church’s master plan stay true to a church’s long-term vision?

The answer is by being as versatile and flexible as possible. In other words, by applying the same principles used to create efficient multi-purpose buildings that are adaptable from day one.

Master Planning and the Multi-Purpose Ethic

The church is a dynamic institution. Its master plan should reflect the same dynamic character. It should be customized for buildings that can change, adapt, and grow, as time passes, opportunities arise, and visions transform.

The architect must have a thorough understanding of church values and modes of operation. This is required to create structures and spaces that offer a variety of opportunities and the potential for a broad range of expressions. And the versatility and flexibility must be preserved, even after changes have already been made.

I have enormous respect for multi-purpose church buildings. They represent a fundamental element in a modern church’s outreach programs. They also express the church’s determination to serve the needs of their congregation in their entirety.

The church body is alive and well, free to grow and follow its Divine Guidance, utilizing all its forms of expression, in a multi-purpose building. If the same can be said for the entire master plan and all its building components, it means the church architect has done their job to the best of their ability. For me, that’s what it’s all about. 

Why In-Person Church Service Surpasses Virtual Services

In comparison to the virtual alternative, in-person services offer a more vibrant and memorable emotional experience. 

Nevertheless, online services are clearly here to stay. Churches have been searching for ways to expand their population of worshippers or arrest its decline, and online services can help them accomplish this vital mission.

For better or worse, the spread of virtual church services is forcing a re-evaluation of what the phrases ‘congregation’ or ‘church community’ mean. 

Traditionally, a congregation or community has been comprised of people who knew each other by face and by name. Friendships would inevitably develop inside of these communities, increasing the strength of the bonds that tied congregation members together. Shared in-person services have always been communal affairs, and their collective nature has strengthened the depth of feeling they induce.

With virtual services, this type of intimate connection isn’t possible. In general, unless people have met in person at some point, they are unlikely to form meaningful relationships with people they only encounter in online environments. 

And in most instances, there will be no actual encounters involved. Those who “attend” church services online will do so from the privacy of their own homes, completely isolated from each other and from those who are attending services at the facility. What was formerly a collective interaction with the divine and sublime becomes more individualized, reducing its impact.

The group spiritual experience is powerful. It enhances the worshipping experience in ways that virtual services can never match. 

A well-designed church, built with both the practical and the spiritual interests of the congregation in mind, helps elicit deeply reverent feelings and makes in-person worshipping a joyful experience. The job of the church architect has always been to create a structure that is functional, yet most of all produce feelings of serenity and a profound connection with the sacred. 

The Evolving Responsibilities of the Church Architect

From an architect’s perspective, it is important to recognize the ongoing evolution of the churchgoing experience. Old models of design aren’t being discarded. But they are being updated to reflect the new reality. Church buildings are being constructed for multiple uses, and worshipping areas must be designed to suit the needs of both in-person and virtual attendees.

This does make the church architect’s job more complex. In the past, we made our plans based on relatively stable attendance numbers. 

Now, we must plan for attendance levels that might fluctuate over time. This could happen over the course of a few months. Or it could happen seasonally if it is assumed that many congregation members are likely to choose virtual over in-person services during extremely hot or cold weather. 

Attendance could change quite a bit over long periods of time, depending on how eagerly a church decides to embrace the online service model. There could be big changes if a church first adopts the online model but decides to largely abandon it later, leading to a sudden and dramatic increase in in-person attendance. 

These are factors that can determine how much square footage a new building or remodeling project should have. It will also affect design choices since facilities that will be offering online services should have superior lighting, appropriate acoustics, proper spaces to install video recording equipment, and so on. 

An emphasis on online attendance can also affect a church’s choice about how much space to create for use by members of the greater (non-churchgoing) community. With physical attendance numbers in flux and the possibility that significant declines might be experienced, structures designed for worship should be adaptable for a variety of uses or be easily convertible for new uses at some point in the future. 

The architect’s job is to be the facilitator for all potentialities and possibilities. In the current environment, there are more uncertainties than ever before, making flexibility a key watchword in modern church design and planning.

Planning for an Uncertain Future

Recent polls of churchgoers suggest that most of them appreciate the availability of the online option, and plan to make extensive use of it is moving forward. 

However, there is no guarantee this sentiment will last. In fact, there’s good reason to assume it won’t. Eventually, the extra ingredients that make in-person services more satisfying will be noticed and missed. It seems predictable that as the intensity of the pandemic wanes and people become more prepared to leave their homes, many who say they want to attend services virtually now will change their minds later. 

This means church architects shouldn’t alter the basic principles that motivate their design choices. Flexibility and versatility in building projects are more important than ever, but the architect’s ultimate responsibility is to promote and preserve the most sacred, enlightening, energizing, and inspiring aspects of the in-person attendance experience. This mission will never become obsolete, no matter what kind of technological, societal, and cultural changes occur.

Church Construction in the 2020s: Where Are We Headed?

The principles of church architecture and construction are in constant evolution. They must embrace and encourage innovation, to stay apace of changing worship practices and help support church-initiated shifts in member recruitment priorities and strategies. Budgetary considerations are always important as well, and increasingly the need to save money upfront and boost profits in the long-term are driving church design and development choices.

Churches want to offer their members an unforgettable and transformative worship experience. That is the primary mandate that architectural firms involved in faith-based construction must follow. But modern churches are also striving to position themselves as valuable community assets, by creating comfortable and inviting multi-purpose spaces suitable for hosting a wide range of events and activities.

As society continues to adjust to the dramatic changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, church planners, designers, and builders are motivated to ask an important question: how will the “new reality” affect church design and construction practices in the years to come?

The Nature of the Challenge

Partly in response to the pandemic, a majority of churches are now either live streaming their services, posting a video recording of them online after services are finished, or both. In a Pew Research Center survey taken in the summer of 2020, 72 percent of regular churchgoers reported attending religious services online, compared to 33 percent who said they’d braved coronavirus restrictions and attended services in-person. Notably, among those who normally did not attend church at all, 17 percent said they had attended virtual services.

Regardless of future restrictions on large gatherings, these practices are shepherding a change in church attendance habits that are likely to have a permanent impact. More than half of churchgoers who’ve experienced this new reality told researchers that they didn’t plan to go back to attending church onsite full-time, but planned to choose online options some or much of the time.

This preference will inevitably impact church construction practices moving forward. For example, lighting, acoustics, and auditorium stage design will need to be suitable for recording and transmitting live video feeds, which will become more essential to a church’s survival. As in-person attendance wanes, churches will need to increase foot traffic and facilitate revenue enhancement in other ways.

It will be incumbent on churches to find additional ways to bring people through their doors or onto church grounds, for meetings, conferences, educational experiences, recreational opportunities, child care services, and any other innovation that can integrate the church more thoroughly into the local community. Consequently, a multi-purpose orientation in design and construction will be more vital than ever.

 The Clearest Trend: A Balancing Act

Newly constructed churches must be designed with one eye focused on the present and one eye looking to the future. The final design must be carefully chosen and customized to strike a balance between the expectations of the existing congregation (and church leaders) and the need to be more welcoming and inclusive.

Among those who will be welcomed with open arms are three separate but sometimes overlapping groups: the previously unchurched (a traditional target), those seeking easy access to online religious services, and regular churchgoers who need a new spiritual haven because their old churches have closed.

The latter group could be growing rapidly. The president of the Barna Group, David Kinnaman, estimates that approximately 20 percent of churches will be closing within the next 18 months, pushed over the line into extinction by the lingering effects of the pandemic.

For churches about to launch new construction or renovation projects, the challenge is to make architectural choices that will suit the needs of all three potential constituencies, without alienating current members of the congregation.

Trying to satisfy everyone simultaneously may be a tall order. But church architects can help by creating customized architectural plans based on detailed input from congregations and church leaders. These individuals always have the best interests of the church in mind, and they will have the clearest ideas about what they want their new multi-purpose, community-and-worship-centered structures to accomplish.