What a quaint idea. Building and providing new facilities –
This begs the question of why the facilities that we have are in such poor shape…

In our own parish, the poor old building only ever gets fixed after it’s got broken and the band-aids won’t attach.
The light fittings are busted, the wiring is shot and the roof leaks.
While there is an expense account called maintenance, this gets used to do minor works and only then when there’s no choice.
It would be interesting to see when in the past 30-years the maintenance budget as conceived, was fully utilised for actual maintenance.

So what is “building maintenance” – Building maintenance is the provision of all servicing and repairs to ensure that the building structure, furnishings, fixtures and infrastructure services are not degraded or decayed from the performance requirement of the standards and specifications to which they were installed.
In addition to this there is the requirement to amend or install any additional measures necessary for the safety and well-being of the occupants.

Connect09 or the Dios Mission won’t work if the facilities we have are not adequate…
I would ask that somehow those responsible for such things reflect on being good and responsible stewards, rather than creating positions for curates.

I used to think that church buildings didn’t matter, that (as your Dean said) they were rain shelters and no matter what happened to the building the church would keep going.

I no longer do. First, the actual maintenance can be a source of fellowship, working bees are a good way of attracting task oriented men who want to do something practical. IT can be built on.

Second its a witness a well cared for church is more likely to attract people.

Ian Childs - 13 October 2008 03:06 PM

I would ask that somehow those responsible for such things reflect on being good and responsible stewards, rather than creating positions for curates.

I don’t even begin to understand what lies behind the priority you’ve expressed here, but it seems quite wrong.

Perhaps you could explain.

Ian
I take it that this is the article to which you refer?
It’s great to have a post from someone with a photo and a bio, good to know a little about those with whom we chat.  I’ve tried to upload a photo several times, but without success—maybe that’s because the ‘powers’ know what I look like!  Mercy triumphs.
Bob

Hi Ian

At least your parish has a building!!

Nicole :)