8 tips for making the most of your church’s space

Maximize using your church’s facilities. Find new ways to use your sanctuaries, libraries, common rooms, fellowship halls and offices.

Opening your doors to the community can do two things. First, you expand your congregation’s role in the community. Second, you might help the church’s bottom line. Here are eight ideas to get you started.

Begin.Involve your congregation before opening your facility doors. Seek their ideas, address concerns and work together to create a facility-use plan that meets a variety of needs. Appoint a church employee to oversee the facility schedule. 

Think big. 

Does your church have an unused (or rarely used) gym, auditorium or other large space? Is your church interested in expanding? Does it lack the necessary funds? Consider creating a community recreation center and renting it periodically to community sports leagues or for recreational classes. 

Rent rooms. 

Many churches already do this, but most can do it more successfully by expanding their marketing. Some possibilities include:

Advertise room rentals on your Web site. Include costs and an up-to-date calendar, if possible. Make sure to identify how many people each room can accommodate and the various set-up styles available (theater, round tables, etc.).

Hold an open house for leaders of your community’s nonprofit, charitable, educational and arts organizations to tour the available spaces.

Put rental fliers on public bulletin boards in bookstores, cafes and supermarkets.