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Jesus in the City
The 2nd UK Urban Mission Congress
"Community Conflict and Celebration"
Belfast, 26-30 September 1998
Church buildings for community use
- In years gone by, before there were pews, many churches will have been used for secular purposes. The idea of separate sacred space may be quite recent.
- We list some of the community uses of churches today
- We list some of the reasons churches get involved with community projects and community groups
- We set out some of the relationships churches will have to projects and groups
- All of these change over the years as seen in a short history of my own church in Glasgow.
- Finally looking at other case studies from the group and from Glasgow picking out issues as they arise.
We are committed to building better communities and our buildings may be a very important resource. We may have different relationships with the community. Where do we stand?
- Are we a bit apart from the community doing our own project as a service to the community in our own buildings?
- Allowing some community involvement in our church controlled project?
- Offering accommodation for rent for outside projects either for 'market' rental or 'subsidised'?
- Partnership arrangement where outside user groups are involved in building management?
- Are we involved in Community Projects out-with our own church building base where other buildings may be more appropriate, accessible or acceptable.
Wherever we stand we must be aware of the reasons and Issues:
- are we keen to do a distinctive Christian work?
- are there areas of work which may be off limit?
- do we want to stand with the community & give support to local people?
- are we just In it to make better use of our buildings or to make an income from rental?
- if we are involved in sustaining buildings apart from the church buildings in the community might it effect the viability of our own buildings?
- how can we afford to maintain our own buildings and to maintain health & safety standards?
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