Three keys to a successful church renovation
Positive outcomes can come from renovating your church
Photo from Photos.comAre your parishioners tripping over a worn carpet in your worship space? Is your worship space cramping the way you would really like to celebrate the sacraments? Have you heard some “horror stories” of parishes that have been involved in a renovation project and you want nothing to do with it?
You might be thinking, “Let the next pastor do it!” Economic times are very challenging right now. You want to use what funds you have in a wise, careful way. How do you go about a project for your parish without getting deeply in debt?
While a renovation project can be stressful, inconvenient, and challenging, it can also be a time of renewal and a coming together of the parish. As one pastor said, “It’s not the product that is important; it’s the process of getting there that has been important for us.”
The sense of pride, of ownership and the deepening of a faith journey are very evident on the faces of parishioners who have gone through such an experience. They see the fruit of the journey. Are you willing to take the risk and be one of those parishes?
There are three key elements in every successful church renovation project. Let’s look at each one.
Create a master plan
What is the scope of the intended project? Many renovation projects start out with the need to replace worn out carpeting or maintenance needs. When people start talking about the needs of the space it becomes evident that this might be a larger project than first thought.
Most of the time, diocesan building committees and the diocesan art and environment committees recommend looking at the entire space and making a master plan. They do so because in the end, this may save money and may serve the parish better.
In creating a master plan, the project does not have to be completed all at once. Depending on the funds available to the parish, the project can be divided into phases that are completed over time. The benefit of this is that you don’t have to start from the beginning each time. You already have the plans approved and the project is unified in design.
Get professional guidance
Professionals that might be involved in renovation projects, depending on the scope of the project, include an architect, a liturgical design consultant, a sound consultant, a lighting consultant, a stained-glass artist, craftspeople to design and fabricate furniture, a landscape artist, and other artists. Each of these professionals has an important role to play on the team. Diocesan building committees generally keep a list of architects, consultants, and artists that are approved to work in the diocese.
Some dioceses either recommend or require that a liturgical design consultant be hired for renovation projects. Ideally, the liturgical design consultant is hired first, even before the architect. The responsibilities of the liturgical design consultant include educating the committee and the parishioners on current liturgical norms and the guidelines of the diocese. The consultant also gives visual examples of what other churches are doing in an effort to stimulate the imagination of the parishioners of what is and what could be possible for them in their existing space. It is important to give the renovation steering committee information out of which they can make good decisions.
The education is done before any decisions are made regarding the needs of the parish. If your diocese does not have a list of liturgical design consultants, you can find qualified people at this website: liturgical-consultants.org.
If the liturgical design consultant is hired before the architect, the consultant can assist the parish in the process of hiring the architect. The diocesan building committee can also assist with this. Architects usually have resources for sound and lighting consultants. Liturgical design consultants provide parishes with choices of artists and artisans to hire and generally act as liaisons to them throughout the project.
Create a budget and raise funds
A major part of any renovation project is fundraising. A professional fundraising company will assist parishes with feasibility and planning study. They will also give the parish the tools to proceed with a capital campaign either immediately or in the future. Another option for the parish is to have their own development committee that does the same work. The diocese can assist in choosing what might be the better option for a particular project.
The development of the budget for the project will be challenging. In the beginning, it will be under constant revision. You will determine a final budget in consultation with your professional advisors and your diocesan office.
You might also create a separate budget that includes artwork and furniture. These items can be part of the wish list for donors to contribute as memorials. It is important to know that while some people will not contribute to general renovation costs, they will give to artwork, musical instruments, stained glass, and the other important things that give a sacred feel to the project.
Committees beginning a renovation project do not work alone. There are many resources to guide them along the way. While projects may be stressful, the stress can be minimized with experts available to make the project a reality. Plan well in the beginning, educate your committees, and your parish and you will have spent wisely.
Eight steps to a successful capital campaign
1. Take a disciplined, realistic approach to planning
Devote the time and energy necessary to thoroughly develop a vision for the future and plan (involving key stakeholders early on) for what it will take to actualize that vision.
2. Make the case
Know why this capital campaign is integral to your mission and the people you serve, and why it has to happen now.
3. Leverage your human capital
Getting volunteers involved can take time, but it's worth it—so start early. Think about using this as an opportunity to engage younger individuals, as well.
4. Build your pipeline
Spend time now cultivating new relationships and renewing your relationships with existing donors before you're in the middle of the campaign.
5. Adjust timing expectations
Gifts are being given, but many are taking longer to get and are less than originally expected.
6. Plan for stewardship
Once someone contributes, keep her/him informed on a regular basis about the campaign progress and how her/his funds are already changing the lives of those the organization serves and inspiring other donors to follow her lead.
7. Continue to evaluate your progress, and keep the big picture in mind.
Be disciplined about monitoring the campaign process, campaign progress-to-goal, and priorities.
8. Be courageous!
Is there ever a good time to fundraise? Any time you have a compelling case is a good time.
Source: “Fundraising 101: 10 Things You Need to Know About Capital Campaigns” by Thomas W. Mesaros and Cate A. Fox, tinyurl.com/capitalcampaigns.
Marilyn Morgan, RSM, a Sister of Mercy, has been a liturgical design consultant for many years. She can be reached through her website at marilynamorgan.com or through e-mail at marilynmorgan@sbcglobal.net.
