Adapting church space during disruption

By Katie Albrecht

A lot can be said about the year 2020, but universally, I don’t think any of us saw it coming. Just like any other time, though, life throws curveballs.

This past year, it just so happened to be an enduring pandemic — but what happens when the next big “thing” occurs that shakes up societal norms in the church and elsewhere?

As they say, prevention is the best action. By adapting their facilities, church leaders can have the proper tools to ensure the most success during any type of disruption.

Here are a few ways you can use your church’s space during troublesome times.

#1: Learn how to host multiple activities simultaneously in your building

If used properly, your church’s facility is wonderfully adaptable. Even though not all churches look the same, many have core similarities.

For instance, while every church has a dedicated worship space, you might also have a multipurpose room or gymnasium that is completely separate. Typically these areas create classroom space for Sunday School, church groups, and other community gatherings. However, since these events can sometimes occur at the same time, having a plan in place to accommodate all of them at once is especially beneficial.

A tool that every church leader should have to create extra adaptability in their space is room dividers. By using a portable partition, many church leaders have been temporarily dividing their multipurpose rooms into different segments. This tool gives each group privacy in their meeting space and minimizes clutter in the entire room. In times of disruption when church attendance and funding are potentially lower, maximizing your space for multiple groups can help bring in more funding while supporting the general community. When each event is over, temporary walls should be able to easily store away for you to reset the room.

#2: Open the space to other community events

More than any other time, disruption makes people need their community, whether in the church or not. For this reason, hosting external community events can be a morale booster.

For instance, in a natural disaster like a hurricane or earthquake, blood/food drives are especially important. To help those in need, get creative, and use all the space in your church to bring people together.

Ultimately, these types of events can also expose your church to new people and therefore catch the interest of new members. Bringing in new members not only generates an exciting variety of people into the church but also creates the potential for more donations to come in as well. This funding can continue to help others in need.

#3: Create partnerships

In addition to having community events, your space can also be used for partnerships and fostering larger donations.

When devastation occurs, money and resources all around can be tight. Especially in times like a pandemic, when the majority of people are staying home, having multiple sources of funding besides donations at the church is crucial. This capital not only gives your church the capability to keep running but also supports every member of its community.

During disruptive times, working with the right partner can really benefit your local community. A simple way to accomplish a beneficial partnership is to host a recovery event at your church and have an organization sponsor it. This tactic helps fund the event without dipping into the church’s savings and also markets the partner organization. Since many corporations like to help out others during times of devastation, they might be able and willing to help a church do it, too.

As tragedy arrives in many forms, it can also strike when we are least expecting it. By continuing to be a resource for your community, your church can simultaneously help others while continuing to thrive.

Katie Albrecht is Content Marketing Coordinator for Screenflex Portable Room Dividers, the #1 manufacturer of freestanding, portable partitions. For more than a year, Albrecht has been creating and overseeing all the content for the Screenflex website and social media profiles. Outside of her time at Screenflex, she is an accomplished author and podcaster on topics of mental health.