What would a "church" look like, if it did not own a building?
This is a question that has intrigued me for some time. If the church is people, then why do we assume that a church should own its own building?
I imagine there are any number of facilities that are available for use in our community on Sunday morning for worship, prayer, and study. What might it look like for us to engage some of these community organizations (businesses, non-profits, schools, etc.) in partnership? What if we could offer them something (other than money) in return for use of their facilities on a Sunday?
How could the church bless its community through kingdom partnerships?
In addition, what would our "budgets" look like if we did not own a building? How much more could be invested in the community and in developing leadership for the community? What would it look like if we were to seek "first" God's kingdom in our local community and His righteousness and let all the other things be added?
Obviously, I have a lot of questions. have been thinking through these matters for some time, but I would love to engage others in this conversation.
If you are currently a "church" without a building, what does that look like for you? Is it intentional, or is it just temporary until you can afford your own space?
If you are serving a church which owns a building, what advantage do you see to owning your own space, and why might my idea be impractical?
I would love to hear your comments. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel, and helping me think through what church renewal looks like.