The Village ILWIDIot

Walt Wiltschek 

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.” —Acts 17:24, NIV 

“The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.” 

It's a fun little chorus to sing, one many of us might have sung in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. The church is not a building. Yet when it comes down to it, the buildings in which we worship become rather interwoven with who we are as a church. 

We like the stained glass and soaring spaces. We like our particular spot in the pews or seats. We have memories of weddings or funerals or other special events that have happened within those walls. The brick and mortar (or wood and nails) become part of us. 

Last week, the Mount Morris congregation sold its building, one it had occupied since the late 1950’s. It’s already the fourth church building sale I’ve worked on in my four-plus years in this role. Mount Morris’ large building and the acres around it will now be home to a booming Latino church that is already excited by the plans and possibilities this new space will allow them, and they are eager to continue the Loaves and Fish food pantry and community garden that have long operated there. 

Mount Morris, meanwhile, will now be moving their worship and fellowship to rented space in the Pinecrest “Grove” community building about a mile away. It’s a beautiful facility that should work well for the church, but it will be a change, an adjustment. Mount Morris realized, though, that owning a large facility was a drain on their time, energy, and finances, so they decided to take a leap of faith that will hopefully open new space for ministry. 

As I’ve visited with other churches in the district, I’ve heard congregations raise similar questions and concerns: We’re challenged by keeping up our large building. The maintenance and utility bills are a strain. With many older members now, it’s harder to keep up with everything. 

Facilities should never obstruct faithfulness. Our buildings are good and useful so long as they support our ministry, both for the congregation and as ways to invite the community in and to provide space for other groups and activities. When that ceases to be true, then we need to reconsider our mission and structure, however painful that might be. Use it well, or pass it on. 

All around our district, we can find former church buildings now used for other purposes or sitting empty. I recently was able to visit the Silver Creek building outside Mount Morris, for example, which used to house previous generations of Brethren. Beams from the former Salem building now form the pavilion at Camp Emmaus. The old Pleasant Hill meeting house sits outside Girard. Others are now marked only by cemeteries. 

Jesus Christ is forever. Buildings are not. As we consider the shape of our ministries in rapidly changing times, may we have the courage to think boldly, asking ourselves what will be most faithful for these people we call the church.