Leaders expressing and setting out church culture.

 

Church is a reflection of the senior leader’s story.

The church itself, that physical entity, the bricks and mortar that we seem to invest so much in, will reflect who we are and what our story is. Let me explain.

If our church building is old, run down and in need of repair or a fresh lick of paint, then this presents the image that we are old run down and of no use to anyone. If we are a pew and hymn book church then what we may be saying to many is that we are people of tradition and have little or no desire to engage with today’s society. Or we may be a church that has a data projector, guitars and drums and a sound system and even some rudimentary stage lighting, but still sing songs and play church music of ten or fifteen years ago. What are we saying to people? Are we saying that we have found our niche our fellowship and don’t need to learn anything new or engage with anybody. Are we saying that we have arrived?

I believe, that the way we present ourselves, the way that we engage with people, the buildings that we occupy and even the music we play and sing, tells people who we are and what we represent. Churches and Church Leaders attract like for like. There is no better demonstration of this than the way the senior leader engages with and sets out the expression of their story and vision.

Firstly a church is built around the story of the senior leader. Hillsong church in the Hills area of Sydney Australia is built around the story of Brian and Bobby Houston. Today we have a church that not only has influence in the nation of Australia but influence through its churches and music worldwide. However more than anything, Hillsong reflects the vision and culture that the Houston’s believed possible. They project a young, modern contemporary vision culture and Ideal that the message of Christ is significant to the world today. Brian Houston has often said that the message stays the same and has done for two thousand years, but the method by which we present that message changes. Perhaps a representation of the way the message is presented is the auditorium at their church. It is modern, up to date. It helps through its events to project a vibrant culture that things can be done with excellence. It shows that Christianity is relevant, that the message of the cross can be presented in new and significant ways. What needs to remembered though is that they did not start there. They started in a front room, but the vision was not to stay there, or stay in rented facilities it was to build their own place that would reflect the big things that God was able to do.

There are many churches in the western world that are growing and many that are not. I would like to put forward the idea that one of the reasons for this is that the buildings and auditoriums that those churches occupy, do not reflect the story of the senior leader, their vision, culture and ideals. The leadership of those churches do not believe in a God who can do big things.

How then do we design our auditoriums to reflect our vision, our structure, and our culture? I am not a design expert, I am sure there are many ways of doing this, but I would look for the following:

Am I comfortable not just in the literal sense, but does the atmosphere that is projected make me feel comfortable or does it intimidate me. For example I have been in some churches where the wooden pews are hard and uncomfortable, more so when the preacher preached for over an hour and a half. I have also been in churches where there was modern seating with plenty of padding but the preacher still preached for over an hour and I still felt uncomfortable. It wasn’t the seating it was the atmosphere. I have been in churches where the whole auditorium was enclosed by black curtaining, the seating  was of average  comfort but there was a sense of being cosy and safe. I have also been in churches where there was only back curtaining on the platform area and still felt safe and secure. I have been in churches where the lighting was turned down during the worship and turned up again when the announcements were given and the Word of God was preached. Or where the music has been loud and young people have stood at the front with raised hands and eyes closed as they have worshipped a living and relevant God. I have even been in churches where they have had a smoke machine. The point I make is it is not the design but the atmosphere that is created that counts.

How big is the Auditorium? Is there room to grow? Do people feel cramped and feel as though their personal space is being impinged upon? If your churches are 80% full then you are full and people will begin to feel as though they are in a cramped space. Design your auditorium to reflect future growth, where curtaining and or walls can be easily taken down to facilitate growth. If you use lighting systems and high tech sound systems make sure they are manned by those who have been well trained Ensure that your platform has the right proportions, is not too high or too big that it says that it is more important than the congregation. It needs to be large enough for events and for the worship group to grow and move around. The pulpit should be movable a fixed pulpit can be an eyesore and detract from what is happening on the platform, I much prefer a Perspex and chrome light weight pulpit. Do not neglect the foyer, often this is where people get their first impression of the church, if they like what they see they will like it even better when they enter the auditorium.

I look for a well organised and well trained team of ushers and helpers, who are efficient and friendly. I look to see if they are enthusiastic and willing to serve. Their heart will reflect the heart of the senior leader. Church doesn’t start when the first song is sung but it starts in the parking area and the enthusiastic welcome that visitors and regulars receive when they arrive. This is true not just of the Sunday services but every service and event.

The decor, auditorium, platform and pulpit. The sound and lighting systems, the various teams that help to run the programmes are all a reflection of what the senior leader wants. This is the result of the vision and culture of the senior leader being transmitted and absorbed by those who ensure it is established. The senior leaders cannot allow themselves to be diverted nor intimidated by minority parties within the church who only want their own agendas catered for.

If we want our churches to grow then even the bricks and mortar of our churches need to reflect the vision and culture that we are cultivating. The church is a reflection of the Kingdom of God not a reflection of the local pub or nightclub. It is amazing what a lick of paint and fresh thinking can accomplish.