When I'm staying in a different city over a weekend, whatever the reason may be, I love to get up early on a Sunday and visit a local church. It's always nice to see the different customs and traditions each church brings to its services, and it often gives me great ideas to bring back home with me ("They all pray in small groups during Prayers of the People! We should try that!"). A few weeks ago I found myself in the middle of downtown Toronto for the weekend, and I was up bright and early on Sunday morning to attend a service in a large, old Presbyterian church.
The service itself was great, with a powerful sermon about forgiveness and an organist who really knew what he was doing, but the most-provocative moment for me was at the very beginning, during announcements, when one of the church's elders informed the congregation that a pipe had burst overnight, causing massive flooding in half a dozen rooms. As a result, the rooms were entirely inaccessible and the congregation now faced two large bills: one for fixing the pipe, the other for the cleanup of all the water damage.
The impact of this would undoubtedly be felt well beyond the walls of that church. A quick look at the church's bulletin revealed a long list of community events and activities scheduled to be held that week, but would now likely have to be cancelled. Being in the heart of Toronto, this church was clearly a gathering spot for many different groups, particularly those focused on helping the lonely and needy. One burst pipe may have put all those ministries on hold.
Though it lasted no more than a minute, this announcement served as a great reminder of the risks associated with the physical church building. Many churches in North America are well over fifty years old and have not had serious updates or renovations since they were built. Add to that their large, exposed structures and the increasingly-erratic weather we've been seeing, and you have some serious threats to a House of Worship.
Thus, when it comes to thinking about the risks a church is facing, the physical structure has to be considered and should be a priority, especially as the seasons change. Can the sanctuary roof survive another winter (or hurricane season)? Has the electrical wiring been inspected at the appropriate time? Have any complaints about leaky or frozen pipes been made? Who is responsible for ensuring the church stays clean, and do they have a way to report any problems they find?
Staying on top of the building's condition can save the church thousands of dollars in avoided repairs and replacements. More importantly, it keeps the church's doors open and the surrounding community active. As the church I attended on that Sunday learned, the inability to host other support groups can be devastating. Especially when it could have been avoided.
Risk thought: Does your church have a plan for the upkeep of its building? How closely is that plan followed?
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