Church facility stewards—also known as facility managers—are the unsung heroes behind the smooth operation of church buildings. From ensuring comfort to maintaining safety, their role is indispensable.
However, managing church facilities comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are ten common issues they face and some practical solutions to address them.
1. Aging Infrastructure
Many churches have older buildings with aging infrastructure, including HVAC systems, roofing, and parking lots, which require regular maintenance and repairs. When this is coupled with growing deferred maintenance due to some of the issues below, it can become nearly debilitating.
2. Limited Budget
Tight budgets can make it tough to fund necessary maintenance and upgrades. Where do you start when it comes to church facility budgeting? This question is one of the most common inquiries our team receives.
Therefore, founder Tim Cool wrote an eBook offering specific steps and considerations for creating an effective budget. (Click here to access the eBook.) Learn how to prioritize expenses and make every dollar count. With the right planning, even a limited budget can go a long way.
3. Staffing Shortage and Volunteer Dependence
Understaffed and over-reliant on volunteers? You’re not alone. Most churches are significantly understaffed to properly maintain their facility and to wart off deferred maintenance. This is exasperated by reliance on volunteers for facility maintenance which can lead to inconsistency and lack of expertise in handling complex issues. Limited budgets and staffing shortages are the two empirical reasons for the increase in deferred maintenance.
4. Security Concerns
Churches may be vulnerable to theft, vandalism, or other security threats, necessitating the implementation of security measures such as surveillance systems and access controls. These measures are becoming far more affordable and available due to today’s technology and integrations with platforms such as eSPACE.
5. Accessibility Compliance
Ensuring compliance with accessibility regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), can be a significant challenge for older church buildings. This is a direct result of the first issue above. Many of our aging facilities were not designed or built to meet the needs of those with accessibility issues. While many older church facilities are technically exempt from the ADA requirements—as those that seek to reach everyone in our community—the lack of accessible pathways sends an unwelcome message to those who require them.
6. Energy Efficiency
Balancing the need for comfortable indoor environments with the desire to minimize energy consumption and costs can be a constant struggle for facility stewards. In addition, there are staffing requirements that must be met to be efficient. Both staffing and energy efficiency can be addressed by integrating systems with applications such as eSPACE and COOLSPACE.
7. Use of Space
Maximizing the use of available space for various activities and events while accommodating different groups’ needs can be complex, especially in multi-purpose facilities. One of the key elements of Facility Stewardship is the proper, intentional, and systematic approach to space utilization.
Avoid double booking, ensuring rooms are set up properly, confirming spaces are clean and ready for the next event, and so many aspects are critical factors for a Facility Steward. There are tools that can be used to make you more efficient.
8. Regular Maintenance
Keeping up with routine maintenance tasks, such as cleaning, landscaping, and equipment servicing, is essential to prevent costly repairs, maintain a safe environment, and mitigate facility closures due to system failures. As stated above, the issues related to budget and staff play a huge part in fulfilling these inevitable needs.
9. Emergency Preparedness
Developing and implementing emergency response plans for events such as fires, natural disasters, or medical emergencies is crucial to ensure the safety of congregants and staff. Don’t wait until you have an emergency. Be proactive and intentional.
10. Congregation Engagement
Facility stewardship is not just the responsibility of the paid facility staff in the same way that evangelism and discipleship are not the sole responsibility of the paid ministerial staff. It takes everyone doing their part. Remember, “leaders pick up the trash.” We need to lead by example for our congregation.
Conclusion: How to Address Church Facility Issues
All in all, addressing the many issues outlined above requires proactive planning, effective communication, collaboration with stakeholders, and a strategic approach to facility stewardship.
Additionally, seeking professional guidance and utilizing resources such as software platforms, assessments, industry associations, and training programs can help church facility stewards navigate these challenges more effectively. You’re not alone on this journey—help is available, and together, you can make your church facilities shine.
