When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church [Paperback]

Ray Bowman (Author), Eddy Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992

When Not to Build has helped numerous churches find wise and creative solutions to their space problems. The first edition garnered a Recommended Resource Award from Your Church magazine and won favorable reviews:A useful book for churches that want to build, and a valuable contribution for those that want to focus on developing more effective ministries.--Reformed ReviewWill edify any church leader in any phase of church growth.--Bookstore JournalNow this expanded edition takes into account the changing shape of the contemporary church with four new chapters, a new appendix, an added preface, and updated information throughout.In the authors' experience, nine out of ten churches that consider building have a better alternative. When Not to Build helps pastors, church leaders, building committees, and laypeople find those alternatives and avoid unnecessary expense. It also offers practical advice for keeping building costs at a minimum when it is the right time to build, as well as maintaining focus on ministry through a building program. Self-tests are included at the end of each chapter.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An architect telling you not to build? You've got to read this one!

Main thesis: Actually, Bowman isn't opposed to building per se; he just wants churches to be sure they actually need to build and that they construct facilities that will serve the kingdom best.

Bowman...pierces conventional wisdom he once espoused, such as: "A new building will attract new people to the church." He confesses, "Much of this conventional wisdom encouraged churches to build too big, build too soon, or build the wrong kind of building."

Favorite chapter: "Three Things Church Buildings Can Never Do." The three things: Stimulate growth; improve giving to ministry; motivate people to minister. -- Your Church, November/December 1992, upon awarding the magazine's 1999 Recommended Resources Book Award.

Bowman's candor is refreshing. After spending most of his life designing church facilities, he took a look back. His retrospect alarmed him as he discovered that, in many instances, effectiveness in serving Christ had decreased when congregations built new buildings. As a result, the author now finds himself advising many churches not to build.

Through this book, Bowman helps church leaders decide whether to build by presenting several principles for consideration. For example, he writes, a church should build only when it can do so within the income God has provided and without using funds needed for the church's present and future ministries.

Second, a church should build only when it can do so without shifting the focus from ministering to people to constructing buildings. It's detrimental when staff and services have to be cut to pay construction costs.

Third, a church should build only when it's fully using the space it already occupies. Growing congregations that have build large facilities to combine multiple services into one service often have seen their members leaving to attend smaller churches.

Bowman sees the "business" of the local church as meeting needs and reaching the lost. Unfortunately, too often, new buildings run counter to these objectives. Recommend this valuable book to any church leader campaigning for a bigger, better facility. -- Bookstore Journal, April 1993

While noting pitfalls to avoid, Bowman also provides much positive information and advice for churches considering new facilities. Congregations will be helped by his common sense approach and his illustrations from the experiences of other churches. He convincingly supports his philosophy that churches need to explore alternatives to building and need to know when not to build.

Bowman's sensitivity to the risks involved in church construction an his concern for the overall well-being of churches make this a uniquely insightful book for congregations more concerned with effective ministry than mere appearances. -- Ministries Today, May/June 1996

About the Author

Ray Bowman, a church growth consultant, resides in Larkspur, Colorado. Eddy Hall, a freelance writer and editor who joined Bowman as an associate consultant, lives in Goessel, Kansas. Bowman and Hall are also coauthors of When Not to Borrow, and their articles have appeared in Leadership, Your Church, Ministries Today, and Clergy Journal. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801010314
• ISBN-13: 978-0801010316
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,963,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for building committees., February 27, 2000

By 

Fred Niffenegger (Waldo, Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church (Paperback)

Ray Bowman and Eddy Hall have asked all the right questions here. The answers may surprise you! I wanted a straight forward look at the big question of when to build a church and found a lot of little questions along the way. I had to ask questions like; "Will more people come if we build?", and "Can we afford to build?". Without asserting their religious views excessively or to the point of distraction, the authors were a big help in this regard. The same thought process goes on for people all over the world when they aspire to or are thrust into a leadership position in a building project. Also, there is nothing new here. People have been building churches for an awful long time, you know. Why try to reinvent the wheel? I recommend reading this book to help answer your questions and to know what quetions to ask.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "think outside the box" ideas for many church problems, May 7, 2005

By 

R. Martin "boblaura9" (Mauldin, sc United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church (Paperback)

I "had" to read this book because I am on the church board. I was pleasantly surprised by it. It is an easy-reading book that offers unique "think outside the box" ideas for solving a variety of church problems. Even if you are NOT thinking about building, many of the ideas in this book may be useful to your church!

Most churches probably don't need to build because there are other very viable and realistic alternatives. (The book gives many examples!) A building may also put the church in financial bondage, and shift the churches focus from people/outreach to the building program. Because the focus changes, the church stops growing...and they end up in a big new building with hardly any people.

Besides the actual physical ideas for creating more usable space in your existing building, the book also encourages you to think more about your churches priorities and principles. Maybe you don't even need more space. Is your church "over-programmed"?? Many churches start new programs without phasing out any of the old. Old and new programs may end up over-lapping with each other. More isn't necessarily better. It can lead to chaos, volunteers stretched thin, lower quality programs, and lack of space. Better to do less and do it well. Cutting out some programs may not only solve the space problems, but just be better for the church anyways! Short on sunday school classrooms? The "team teaching" method described in the book will not only free up space, but it often creates a higher quality of sunday school classes.

I highly recommend this book - many creative ideas... I think all church leaders should read it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent unconventional advice, June 13, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church (Paperback)

Bowman & Hall make a solid case for examining every possible option before deciding to build or expand your facilities.

Convicing arguments with good supporting data.

Recommended for any church considering investing in facilities.

(Companion book, When Not To Finance, is in the works.)