Well managed, a building can be a powerful ministry tool. Resources in this section will help you to address nitty-gritty maintenance problems and consider ways that your building can best serve your congregation's mission.

BUILDING ISSUES

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 helps congregations discover and focus on their mission and to develop a physical environment to support that mission.

Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message (Book)
Nancy DeMott, Tim Shapiro, Brent Bill, Authors.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2007.
Holy Places helps congregational leaders implement a "sacred space model" for building spaces that communicate a faith community's identity, mission, and purpose. The model's three-part process will keep building projects on track.

The Next Step: How to Discover the Right Solutions to Plan, Design, & Build Your Church (Book)
Bill Chegwidden, Author.  Canton, GA: Riverstone Group, 2004.
Presenting 14 distinct steps for congregations to follow, architect Bill Chegwidden has written a practical and highly readable book to help congregations navigate the details and challenges of a building project.

Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship (Web Resource)
Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Committee on the Liturgy
This resource has universal appeal in its theological grounding and descriptions of different church spaces such as the altar, baptistery, etc., each one’s liturgical significance, and construction and adornment guidelines.

Church Extension Planning Publications (Web Resource)
Indianapolis, IN: Church Extension
This series covers aspects of a church-based building or renovation project, providing PDF documents on funding, planning, construction, existing facilities, and accessibility. All are written to support church building planning committees.

Firm Foundations: An Architect and a Pastor Guide Your Church Construction (Book)
Lance Moore, Author.  Lima, OH: CSS Publishing Company, 1999.
Detailing all aspects of a building project—from initial idea to final dedication service—Pastor Lance Moore and architect Daniel Michal offer a comprehensive guide to church construction projects.

Relating to Contractors (Article)
Here is a list of important points to remember when hiring a building contractor. Includes a "learn more" appendix of related resources.

This Old Church: The Indispensable Guide for Restoring Church Buildings (Book)
Ion Grumeza, Author.  Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2005.
A premier for Church Renovation Committees, this book provides overview information about renovation projects, issues likely to need attention, and practical advice. Specific renovation issues are described and illustrated with photographs.

Your Sacred Place is a Community Asset (Book)
Tuomi Joshua Forrest, Patricia LePera, Sarah Peveler, Authors.  Philadelphia, PA: Partners for Sacred Places, 2002.
This multi-media tool kit helps congregations determine their community-service value, plan for a capital campaign and discover new ways to partner with community organizations. Various "tools" divide the work into manageable pieces.