Tari Stage-Harvey, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Juneau, AK, recently wrote an article for the Juneau Empire suggesting that it is time for Christians to move beyond their fascination with church property and buildings. She writes:
Something happened in the history of Christianity where the assembly of Jesus’ followers fell in love with buildings. The building became church. The building became something we went to and often quickly exited so we could move on to brunch. The church became a destination that could be left behind.
I appreciate having a building where people may gather to worship and praise God, where Bible studies may be held, and community meetings may happen. We are blessed to have a beautiful facility and we are seeking more ways to use it in the community.
So What?
This pastor goes on to suggest a way forward that deemphasizes the church campus:
We have different styles of gathering, we have some different teachings, but do we really need all the walls? . . . So I’m proposing this summer that we stop going to church, and start being the church.
Unfortunately, many parishioners’ primary image of their local congregation is of the church campus. This tendency must be challenged even if it cannot be overcome easily or quickly. The church as campus (owned land and buildings) is bad theology. It is also a carryover from a previous era. The shift away from church as a place to go is an essential shift for the American church in the next decade, which is why “less real estate” ranks among my top ten changes needed for the American church over the next several years.
- When you think of your local congregation, what is the first visual image that comes to mind?
- What would it look like for your congregation to emphasize being rather than going to/attending church this summer?
- Do you agree or disagree with my assertion that owning less real estate will be a necessary and helpful trend over the next several years? Why?