Building for Effective Mission: A Complete Guide for Congregations on Bricks and Mortar Issues (Book)
Kennon L. Callahan, Author. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1997.

Affirming that mission grows with compassion and community, this book describes actions congregations may take to discover a mission and a focus for it, and to plan for accomplishing it.

Maintenance Manual: A Program for Inspection and Seasonal Maintenance of Religious Properties (Book)
Albany, NY: Architecture and Building Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, 1985.

This extensive property manual includes seasonal maintenance schedules and mechanical, inspection, and safety checklists—along with a helpful glossary and space for recording key information. (Click on the link above, then scroll down for further information on purchasing the book.)

More than Bricks and Mortar: Building a Church Without Losing Your Mind (Book)
Harry L. Seawright, Author. Washington, DC: Congress of National Black Churches, 2001.

More than Bricks and Mortar provides information and resources to facilitate the planning and implementation of church construction projects. It can help with setting a vision for the church, selecting architects and contractors, and financing projects.

Open the Doors, See All the People: A Guide to Serving Families in Sacred Places (Web Resource)

This introductory guide gives practical advice to congregational leaders on planning, funding, and managing programs housed in older buildings that serve children and families. It is available as a free download from Partners for Sacred Places. (Note: you will need to have installed the free software, Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Partners for Sacred Places (Organization)

Partners for Sacred Places is "the only national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization devoted to helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places." Their Web site describes sacred places at risk; provides information on fundraising, building maintenance, sharing space, and serving families; offers publications on topics ranging from accessibility to energy to property care; maintains a list of reputable professionals in architecture, building conservation, masonry contracting, and other servies; and links Web visitors to related sites.

Places for Worship: A Guide to Building and Renovating (Book)
Marchita B. Mauck, Author. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995.

This brief (70 page) booklet provides expert advice for practical matters related to building and renovating a house of worship.

Praise Buildings (Web Resource)

This Web site provides a comprehensive online "yellow pages" to many vendors, articles, and resources. The search engine enables users to select by state or province. While little evaluative information is listed here, any congregation seeking a contact on just about any building-related topic will find a wealth of listings and links.