Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/94

Contributor - Stephen Swift

Title - The Time Has Come ... A Vision for Canada

Topic - Reformed Church In Canada

Where Will We Find the Money?

A few years ago I saw a cartoon where a man was shaking the pastor's hand after church saying, "I was glad to hear you say you didn't know where the money will come from for the building fund. For a minute there, I was worried you were going to ask us for it." This comical comment points to a common experience among congregations who want to build or redevelop their facilities. The peoples' spirits are willing but their wallets are weak, to adapt a phrase. When this is the situation, what can a growth minded congregation do?

We certainly cannot establish facilities as they used to in bygone days. In my grandmother's day a church was built when a farmer gave a piece of his farm land. Materials were donated or bought at cost because it was "for the church" and neighbours joined together in puffing it up. Those days are long gone. Land, supplies, contractors can each generate an overwhelming cost and together can make the new facility or renovation an impossible dream.

Times have changed for the church and new times call for new ways. In order to see how churches may need to be thinking these days or in the future, imagine this scenario:

Judy is off to take her child to daycare and to do some business. She goes to First Church and is impressed again with the new structure as she drops her daughter off. From there, she walks around the building to an office in the church building which her insurance agent rents. Next door to him is the lawyer but her favourite destination is the little coffee and muffin shop which has rented the comer unit. Now she has done all her chores with plenty of time to get to her regular Bible study in the classroom above the insurance office.

This scenario reflects an important shift in the way we use our churches. The day is here when churches must use their facilities to generate significant revenue. In fact, it will soon be the only way a church building becomes financially viable because congregations do not have the resources. Many churches already rent space to community groups but some churches will go a step further. Economic reality is dictating that, for a relatively small extra cost in a big building project, additional space should be made for businesses to rent. Furthermore, each facility must be constructed for multiple purposes in order for the building to be marketed for such things as small conventions, art shows, a light lunch restaurant, etc.

Undoubtedly, for many people, it will be hard to see the church venture into business and marketing to help finance the work of ministry, but it was hard for my grandmother's generation to adapt to building fund campaigns where the congregation was pressed for money to buy what was once donated. So too, necessity may well force us to shift our thinking whether we like it or not. The danger that will be hardest to avoid is to that of becoming so caught up with business that ministry is forgotten. Business must be the means to an end and not the end in and of itself.

Besides the financing of church structures, some interesting benefits may arise with the advent of the "entrepreneurial minded" church. For example, in much of Canadian society the Christian church is seen as only interested in taking money from people. Perhaps earning money for our ministries will help regain some respect. Furthermore, such ventures could reduce the stress on already over-strained Classes and Synod funds and may even help churches to raise income to meet assessments and askings.

Since the days of the apostle Paul we have had "tent making" ministers (i.e. pastors with secular employment to supplement their ministry). Perhaps the day has come to have "tent making" churches.

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