On Building a Church

On Building a Church
by Stephen J. Ferrandi

It will always cost more to build your church then you expected.

What the committee desires to build will exceed their budget, and most architects – even church architects can’t design within the limitation of a tight budget to the frustration of the contractors whose bids will come in over the projected budget and need to be re-bid.

It will take longer to build your church than you think it should.

Change Orders issued by both the contractor and congregation will exceed the contingency budget allocated for change orders.

The building inspector will find fault with something that will result in many people being angry,  change orders being issued, and the work being delayed…for no good reason.

A key member of the building team – architect, engineer, builder, subcontractor or  supplier will do something or forget to do something that will cause major problems for other team members –  this will result in harsh words, major delays, possibly lawsuits and more delays in the construction schedule with finger pointing all around.

It will take much longer to raise the funds to build, than it will to spend them.

Some members of the congregation may leave during the building process in frustration with the fundraising and building process.

More members may leave after the church is built, feeling that their church is gone, replaced with a building that holds little meaning to them.

New Families will replace old families forming new memories in a new church.

Those closest to the project will lose sight of the fact that they are building a Church, one of the most complex buildings typically built by man, which will last a hundred years or more and be the home of more memories to more people than any other building in their lives. For here, new souls will be admitted, young souls will be