Sharing facilities question

[Crystal Lutton]

I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum for the specific question, but the ramifications for our congregation lead me to put this here and I'd appreciate any input.

Because our congregation meets on Saturday we have always sought to share a facility with a sister Nazarene church. We've been allowed to rent but have so far not been embraced with a heart for sharing a facility. We would get our own building but we are not in a financial position to do so and while we are okay renting we are finding that . . . . I'm trying to say this as tactfully as possible and I have no ill intent in saying it, but I'm not sure how to ask the question without putting this out there . . . rather than renting to us as sister Nazarenes we are more often approached with offers that, while fair for the current rental market, are very much landlord/tenant money making rental agreements.

Is this common? Is the problem that we are new creature--a Saturday worshipping Nazarene Congregation? So do rental ideas extended to non-sister churches apply? Would the fact that we are a Nazarene Congregation (or should it) change things?

And I'm curious what thoughts are on this issue. How would you, or how do you think your board would, respond to the idea of partnering with a sister congregation that could shoulder the financial burden of a building (especially when we have threads discussing the decline in the average Nazarene church membership)? Or if you would prefer to rent would you (or do you think your board would) view it as a money-making opportunity rather than a mutually beneficial situation with a sister congregation?

[Susan Unger]

I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum for the specific question, but the ramifications for our congregation lead me to put this here and I'd appreciate any input.

Because our congregation meets on Saturday we have always sought to share a facility with a sister Nazarene church. We've been allowed to rent but have so far not been embraced with a heart for sharing a facility. We would get our own building but we are not in a financial position to do so and while we are okay renting we are finding that . . . . I'm trying to say this as tactfully as possible and I have no ill intent in saying it, but I'm not sure how to ask the question without putting this out there . . . rather than renting to us as sister Nazarenes we are more often approached with offers that, while fair for the current rental market, are very much landlord/tenant money making rental agreements.

Is this common? Is the problem that we are new creature--a Saturday worshipping Nazarene Congregation? So do rental ideas extended to non-sister churches apply? Would the fact that we are a Nazarene Congregation (or should it) change things?

And I'm curious what thoughts are on this issue. How would you, or how do you think your board would, respond to the idea of partnering with a sister congregation that could shoulder the financial burden of a building (especially when we have threads discussing the decline in the average Nazarene church membership)? Or if you would prefer to rent would you (or do you think your board would) view it as a money-making opportunity rather than a mutually beneficial situation with a sister congregation?

I am not an expert on the subject. I just remember a period of time in which my church in the old building shared it for a few months with another church who met on a Saturday [They were like a 7th day adventist church]. They were the new purchasers of our building. We shared it with them while we waited for our new building to be finished. Anyways, it seemed that there was a bit of tension but I got the feeling that it was because we weren't used to sharing the building. We had a lot of stuff and so did they. It would be hard for us to share now, I think, because we have outgrown our new building already. Plus we use it practically everyday of the week...so it would be hard to determine the boundaries of the two churches.

And it might just be the personalities involved in your situation. A different pastor and/or board might create a different atmosphere. Or, maybe it is too new for the parties involved to be able to embrace fully.

[David Showalter]

I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum for the specific question, but the ramifications for our congregation lead me to put this here and I'd appreciate any input.

Because our congregation meets on Saturday we have always sought to share a facility with a sister Nazarene church. We've been allowed to rent but have so far not been embraced with a heart for sharing a facility. We would get our own building but we are not in a financial position to do so and while we are okay renting we are finding that . . . . I'm trying to say this as tactfully as possible and I have no ill intent in saying it, but I'm not sure how to ask the question without putting this out there . . . rather than renting to us as sister Nazarenes we are more often approached with offers that, while fair for the current rental market, are very much landlord/tenant money making rental agreements.

Is this common? Is the problem that we are new creature--a Saturday worshipping Nazarene Congregation? So do rental ideas extended to non-sister churches apply? Would the fact that we are a Nazarene Congregation (or should it) change things?

And I'm curious what thoughts are on this issue. How would you, or how do you think your board would, respond to the idea of partnering with a sister congregation that could shoulder the financial burden of a building (especially when we have threads discussing the decline in the average Nazarene church membership)? Or if you would prefer to rent would you (or do you think your board would) view it as a money-making opportunity rather than a mutually beneficial situation with a sister congregation?

Crystal, our local congregation would be thrilled to share our space with you, free of charge, until you were up and running and able to contribute a bit. We presently have a group called the "Core" meeting in our church on every other Saturday night. It is a contemporary interdenominational worship. So, if you want to move to a rural setting, in the K.C. area, come on out!

[Mike Schutz]

This would seem to be a similar question to a congregation starting a day care center, not solely as a ministry with great potential for evangelism, but to increase cash flow.

We see several Nazarene congregations on our district sharing facilities as a way of increasing ministry in the community. The Collingdale, PA CotN has three congregations using their facility.

While the logistics can be a challenge (it can be challenging with two programs of the same church sharing facilities) - the key being constant communication and complete buy-in by both congregations as to the missional nature of the relationship - this can be highly beneficial both in terms of stewardship and community impact.

[Cindi Hammons]

The problem I see is that you are two churches...and you guys are the newcomers with "strange" beliefs...not traditionally Nazarene. :) I would look for a solution like some churches have with multicultural ministries. Become ONE church, with two different emphases. Have joint social activities, a joint board, etc., etc. Both congregations contributing towards the financial burden of the organization. Don't be a tenant, be a partner. There is/was (don't know if it is still in existence) a Presbyterian church in Columbus that shares facilities with a Jewish congregation/synagogue...even their sign has both churches on it. I wonder how they do it?

Maybe the best place to start is to talk to a church that has an English and Spanish arm of the church and see how they do it. OR, talk to the DS and see if he knows any church that might be willing to partner with you guys in this manner.

[Wayne Paul]

Maybe the best place to start is to talk to a church that has an English and Spanish arm of the church and see how they do it. OR, talk to the DS and see if he knows any church that might be willing to partner with you guys in this manner.

Our small country UMC shares our facility with a Tonga congregation. This could be viewed as a Tonga ministry because both congregations are Methodist. However, the local Congregational, Reform, and a Spanish langrage church have shared the same facility as long as I can remember.

If you are considering sharing, it might be a good idea to contact churches that have a long successful sharing history.

[Crystal Lutton]

Thank you, David, I'll mention that to Rabbi :) At this point we might take you up on it LOL Though we are in a position to contribute financially and our desire is for EVERYONE to prosper and thrive!

Have joint social activities, a joint board, etc., etc. Both congregations contributing towards the financial burden of the organization. Don't be a tenant, be a partner. While we very much want to remain two separate churches we do want to have high fellowship and vision sharing between boards and the offers we are making include full partnering with facility charges and utilities and even certain debts that we know we will impact. Considering the two congregations we have approached are struggling financially we're not really sure what is causing the resistance. While not taking it personally ;) I'm hoping to maybe gain some insight so that we can know how to dialogue with the current church or a future one. We also were hoping that our very very tiny youth and children's groups could attend their already going ministries while some of our thriving ministries could be fully open to their members.

There is/was (don't know if it is still in existence) a Presbyterian church in Columbus that shares facilities with a Jewish congregation/synagogue...even their sign has both churches on it. I wonder how they do it?

This is what we're wanting--and if you remember their name please let me know so I can call and ask them! Since we're both Nazarenes and share the same core beliefs I am rather surprised at some of the issues coming up.

[Crystal Lutton]

If you are considering sharing, it might be a good idea to contact churches that have a long successful sharing history.would this be something we could learn from the District? I'm not sure if there are any local Nazarene churches that have actually shared facilities successfully.

IME what most churches pursue is a charter school and in the end the charter school is telling the church how to run things and since they are bringing in almost all the money the church either listens or goes under. That's certainly not where we're coming from at all.

[Kevin Rector]

We currently rent our building on Saturdays to a Worldwide Church of God congregation. Basically they pay the utilities as their rent.

If you lived in our community and we didn't have an obligation to the WCC church, then we'd let you use our building for free. Christians should give more than they take and churches should as well.

[Crystal Lutton]

for free. Christians should give more than they take and churches should as well.
Thank you for saying that, Kevin! That is the attitude that we are trying to go into things with--we want to be generous! We want to bless the community that would partner with us or simply share the facility. It's hard to navigate some of the discussions we've had to engage in without feeling like we need to, instead, protect and prevent.

At this point we have an arrangement for the summer that is amenable so we'll see how it goes--at least we have a place to meet :D God is Good! I know that at least the heart of the pastor at this church is open and generous. Hopefully we'll get to know the board and others and find a home. If not, I know God has someplace for us.