A Recovering Church Architect

I was raised in a church-centered community that built beautiful church “meetingplaces”.  My earliest lessons of what it means to be a Christian are inextricably woven into my memories of the church buildings in which they were taught.  The dignity of church architecture reinforced the message of my parents; “This is important!  Pay attention!”  My interest in church architecture grew parallel to my understanding of God, in Jesus, as Creator, Sustainer and Savior of all that is.  Convinced that architecture is a powerful tool for communication, I believed that being a church architect would be the culmination of my spiritual and professional ambitions. I thought I reached the pinnacle of my career when I became head of the Church Architecture studio of a Midwestern architecture firm.  But after four years I began to realize that too often constructing church buildings (small “c”) gets in the way of building the Church (capital “C”).   When I started Blue Ridge Architects, I was ready to never design another church.

So many church buildings, whether traditional or contemporary, sit empty the majority of the week.  Drive around your town during the week and notice all the sanctuaries, fellowship halls and classrooms that are only used on Sundays and maybe a handful of evenings or a Saturday or two.  Then talk to a member of a church where the congregation is aging, or where parishioners have been hard-hit by the recession and see what a burden upkeep on these underutilized facilities has become.  How much energy, money and time are siphoned away from critical ministry because we struggle to maintain facilities that aren’t aligned with the Church’s calling?

Renovation of an old 7-Eleven

Instead, I want to design and help build daycare centers, medical clinics, job-skill training centers, hospices – places where the Church is at work and the Kingdom of God is being built. If 300 people need a place to meet, let’s renovate an empty furniture store or car dealership rather than paving over farmland.  Let’s harness technology so that small congregations can learn from and connect to the church worldwide, and then turn off the video monitor and pray for local needs.

Renovation of an old flower shop

Don’t get me wrong, I want to employ my experience and training as an architect in service to the Church.  I believe that Christian stewardship means using God’s provision for God’s purposes. My ambition to be a church architect has equipped me to help Christian congregations discern how to use their time, money, bricks and parking lots to best serve God’s Kingdom.   It’s just that after 23 years of practice, I’m coming to believe this usually means building something other than another big sanctuary with a fellowship hall, gym and classrooms on 20 acres of virgin green space.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Email me at rseitz@blueridgearchitects.com.