ENVIRONMENT & FACILITIES
"A BUSY CLASSROOM CAN HINDER LEARNING
JUST AS MUCH AS A BARREN ONE"
--John Cionca
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The 'Multipurposed' Church: Resources for churches with very limited space
The chapter I have included is from John R. Cionca's The Trouble Shooting Guide to Christian Edcuation (1986). This resource is a gem in that it is practical, and relevant. It puts forth specific guidelines for how to maximize on space in a setting that is both for church and education. I would recommend this source, although a bit dated, for people who are 'multipurposing' their church space.
In our own church, The Church of God of New Rochelle, we took an old storage room and turned it into a classroom.
In our own church, The Church of God of New Rochelle, we took an old storage room and turned it into a classroom.
It was quite a challenge, seeing as we had little to no funds. The program started with a $200 donation from yours truly. From there, we received contributions from the community, and from our own congregation. It took a lot of planning, but eventually the renovations took place. My best word of wisdom: dream big, and allow yourself to cut back to make that vision a reality.
This resource is apparently informed, and perfect for type-A personalities. My problem with it academically and practically is that it is somewhat discouraging. The writer goes into painstaking detail to outline ideal rooms for classes of a particular age-group. Yet, if your church is like mine, where space is extremely limited, this resource can be of very little help. I believe that this resource is probably better for church leaders who are constructing or completely remodeling their facilities, and are taking these things into consideration.