2 Reasons to Stay on Top of Maintenance Issues
It’s a great day to be a United Methodist! Another shout out to all of you at the United Methodist General Conference. May the Spirit continue to guide you.
A few weeks ago, I had a friend walk into the office and say,
“Can you please tell people to keep up with their building maintenance?”
Why sure! Who doesn’t want to read about:
leaky roofs
mold abatement
creaky toilets
outdated heating systems and
peeling paint?
And, sorry to say, that’s just a starting point.
Too many of you are familiar with an unexpected building expense, congregants and pastors mysteriously becoming ill because of toxic mold, a collapsed roof, or siding falling off. It’s unnerving. It's exhausting.
As I have mentioned numerous times, keeping your building in great condition is not about it being ready to be featured on “Church Remodel Now!” (Though, come on, I think that show has real promise).
It is about stewardship and ministry.
1. Stewardship: The Creator of all good things has allowed you to be in a building. That means that you are now the keeper, the shepherd, the steward of what God has given you.
As a result, it’s important to have an active trustees or a similar committee who will keep an eye on the obvious physical structure and the things you cannot see, the infrastructure. When you have a good committee, they will ensure routine maintenance is taking place and there’s a list of potential projects that need to be tackled.
This committee will also report to leadership when it might be time to have a Capital Campaign (hint: most need one every ten years or so). They will let you know if it’s time to take care of major updates in plumbing, heating, or electrical systems. Or it may be time to meet new ministry needs that require building changes. Hey, the trustees just might have a vision to finally replace that wood-paneled 1960s orange and avocado kitchen.
2. Ministry: If you don’t know it by now, your building is where ministry happens. Your building exists for ministry.
Congregations want to have a place where they are proud to welcome not only the “insiders” (those who worship with you) but also the community (those who rarely, if ever, come through your doors).
How your building looks and functions will let people know you care about their well-being. If it looks great and things are operating smoothly, they will know that you are ready to make the world a better place. If they see signs that the building is (sometimes literally) falling apart, it sends a message as well…and sadly, not a good one.
The building matters to “show” the congregation’s liveliness and sense of pride (to be welcoming) but also to “serve” the functions of ministry – appropriate spaces for worship, eating, keeping people safe, inspiring people...whatever God is calling your congregation to do. How does your building and infrastructure make that possible and easy and safe and effective?
Imagining your building as ministry may just be the mind-shift you need to see your space in a new way.
A special note to pastors: Most likely, maintenance and building upkeep were not hot topics in seminary. But as the primary leader in your congregation, this is one of the many, many surprise parts of your job description. Even though it can be scary, I cannot emphasize how important it is to take an interest in this part of your ministry. Keep up with building maintenance now, or it has the possibility to consume you, whether you want it to or not, later on down the road. It’s best to look it clearly in the face ASAP and get back on a healthy footing.
Maintenance does not need to be something to be afraid of – especially if you consider it to be an important part of being a good steward of God’s gifts and a way to be in ministry with whomever walks through your doors. Your building is a blessing. Be sure it presents itself and functions that way.
Previous posts on this topic:
How’s Your Old House?
The Value of a Building
Waaaa! They Don’t Want to Give to the Electricity Bill
Photo credit: aitoff
Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Given the vote at General Conference today, no doubt people were singing Draw the Circle Wide and We Shall Overcome. Amen.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.