How flexible is your building for public occasions and needs?
Often a church building is the only place suitable for public meetings in a scattered rural area. If the space available can be opened up (eg by the use of chairs rather than fixed pews, 2004 disability compliance and kitchen/toilets that meet health and safety regulations) it may be possible for a variety of local gatherings to use the church or hall and so identify with the church as a focus of local community life. This signifies the church’s openness and involvement rather than exclusive attitudes which counteract mission. Some churches are being used as community Post Offices, nursery schools, basic shops, farmers’ markets or drop-in centres. Community partnership is the keynote, building on Jesus’ maxim, ‘Whoever is not against us is for us’. Is your church open more than one hour on a Sunday for community purposes?