Over the past two weeks I have contacted at least a dozen different schools, organizations, and companies to see what it would take (cost) for our church to lease conference rooms or theaters or gyms that they have, but don’t use on Sunday morning. Time and time again I have been told by these colleges and YMCA’s and companies that they “don’t lease their building space to churches” or “are closed on Sunday” or “have policies against” what we were proposing. Several friends of mine all around the country have experienced this same thing.
Here what’s crazy though -all of these companies are firing and laying off people in droves. Literally, three companies that we approached last week had huge public announcements of widespread layoffs, but would not bend on their stupid policies. We are offering to pay more than $30,000 a year plus hire their security and janitorial staff to use empty space, but, in the middle of firing employees, they won’t bend the cherished company policy.
BANANAS. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
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Doesnt truly make sense..If you are laying off people or NOT..If you aren’t using the building on Sundays and someone else needs it, especially if they are paying, what’s the problem? Sometimes the image that people want to uphold clouds their purpose and causes actions to be a little “thrown off”.
I have found this in some of the schools here in Charlotte. Our school system has a policy that once we submit the request it goes to the Principal and they can decide on letting us use the facility.
I did have a conversation with one Principal that asked me “how long do you plan on using my school”? He wanted to know how many Sundays we were going to be in there. I think that there have been some bad churches that have gone in and ruined it for the new churches that want to develop a lasting relationship with the people we are leasing from.
I will be praying for you guys as you seek wisdom on where to be. May God open the door to the right place at the right time. Trust in Him and He will provide.
I also think this is absolutely crazy.
We meet in an elementary school and the biggest issue is the unions for the Janitorial service. The janitors get paid double time at the rate of 30/hr (so we pay 60) and they must be there…(figuratively speaking, i seldom see them after they open). This is in their contracts. I would suggest that you look to urban schools, I find that they tend to be more open to Churches and not affected by some of the PC thinking of suburbia.
Hey David! We’re smack in the middle of downtown Atlanta man. The problem is that companies are still acting like we aren’t in a recession.
Where I live north of Toronto Canada, high schools categorically refuse to rent to churches. It’s incredibly hard to be a portable church. We (Connexus Community Church) launched 14 months ago in two locations and loving our time in the local movie theaters though. Great venue, great landlords. And they are grateful for the revenue. Nice to find that.
We’ve been meeting in a hotel conference center ($CHA CHING$), because the city school system has a policy not to rent facilities to anyone on a long term basis (more than 3 consecutive weeks). Funds from rented facility would go straight to principal and would be equivalent to one year’s salary for a teacher for one year’s rental. Not interested!
We found a store that was closing, but still had 3 years left on lease. Right place, right time, thanks God! Win for developer…new tenant. Win for store, paid for part of our renovation, but out of lease. Win for us…savings of $5500/month, 24/7 access, no longer portable, back in city! We are now renovating the unit and hope to be using it by early March.
Praying for you guys!
I have to agree. We are a new church plant in a city of 30000+ and it was very very difficult to find a place to meet. The schools were either so expensive ($4Gs a month on some) or would not bend their policy of janitorial service despite receiving money and equipment from us. Every commercial space wanted to charge premium prices for buildings that have seriously been empty for years and will be most likely be empty for years to come. Exhausting. Luckily, we found a hotel with ample space to meet in that will work for now. Hang in there Shaun…it’ll come brother, but it’s a tough road.
The way the companies are acting are right in line with a lot of people. Although the company/person is failing, having a hard time, etc. they continue to keep God out????
Don’t forget about the Movie Theater options, our church has been in a theater for 4yrs now, not perfect, but we’ve made it work until our multipurpose facility is ready.
Absolute craziness! On a related note, we have a couple churches in our town who are able to rent from elementary schools, but I’ve heard that California is intending to cut funding to any school that has any religious functions -after-school bible classes (of which my kids’ school has 2)as well as those who rent space to churches.