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****************************************************** webminister@webminister.com November 1999 - #2
IN THIS ISSUE:
****************************************************** How many sardines fit in a can? The answer is until it is full. Sardines even change shape to fit the 100% full can. Architects use a rule of thumb of an average 22 to 24 inches per person in pews. Churches using chairs will hold more people at about 20 to 21 inches. West coast churches average about 30 inches per person. A comfort zone between strangers and a sociological barrier based on positive-negative and/or male-female relationships vary with the individual. Now, how many people can sit comfortably in the church auditorium? One can use the architects' figures or, better yet, figure your own church capacity.. Our representative church can have two rows of pews of 12 feet long with a center aisle. With 11 rows equaling 22 pews, we would multiply the 12-foot pew by 12 giving 144 inches; then 144 by 22 for pews giving 3,168 inches for all the pew space in the auditorium. Next, divide by 24 inches for older, they are usually a little wider, than 22 inches for younger people. Thus, 3,168 inches divided by 24 inches per person gives 132 total attenders for a 100% full auditorium. Using the rule of 80%, multiply 132 by .80 giving 106 as the critical mass for attendance. If the worship attendance is 87, then divide 87 by 132 arriving at .659 or the attendance occupancy was 66%. Some churches are built in different shapes, like a semicircle of pews, and require measuring every pew to arrive at the total inches for the auditorium before dividing by 22 or 24 inches. Psychologically a church will hold 80% of its total seating space. A growing church will peak out around 87% before starting a decline back toward 80%. Long-term this creates a roller coaster effect of up to 87% and down to about 80% every two years. Now, how many worshipers will a church auditorium hold? The answer is about 80% of the available seating, except on special occasions it can even hold more than 100% capacity.
****************************************************** From "The Church Growth Handbook" (pp 79 - 80) Easum states: "Growing churches reach a critical window of opportunity when they reach 80 percent capacity in any area. Colonial Hills [in San Antonio, Texas] uses 80 percent as a "triggering" device. As soon as we reach that capacity, we begin plans for additional facilities. We've found that the sooner a growing congregation responds to the 80-percent rule and provides more space, the easier it will be for the congregation to pay for the addition; the longer a congregation waits to respond, the harder it will be. When a church exceeds the 80-percent rule, it is beyond the comfort zone that is acceptable to most people; every other Sunday, it is uncomfortably full; on special Sundays, intolerably crowded. It sends a signal to the community that it is out of room."
****************************************************** 0% - 20% capacity – intolerably empty, discourages people from attending, has negative impact on church moral and the future of the church. In many cases, the results lead to closing the church. A solution is to create a different style of church, or hire a new dynamic minister with church leadership devoted to evangelistic growth and prayer to revive the church. 20% - 40% capacity – uncomfortably empty, creates a feeling of distance between people and discourages fellowship. Few churches remain in this grouping for long. The church will either decline or needs a new direction with a change in the minister, a change in leadership, or a new focus in ministry. Then, the church will start to grow. 40% - 60% capacity – comfortably empty, The church should evangelize to reach 50% + in capacity for the congregation to get a positive feeling during worship. The church must attract families in their 20s and 30s. This point will be expanded on early next year. 60% - 80% capacity – comfortably full, room for growth and a feeling of comfort, friendship, and satisfaction in worship. 80% - 100% capacity – uncomfortably full, sardine feeling and less frequent individual attendance with a larger increase in the number of inactive members. Growing churches with a celebration style of worship in celebrating God's greatness and fellowship with others can exist with up to 87% capacity before plateauing. Some working ideas that churches have tried successfully are: First, in an empty church, possibly take out the first row of pews and the last two or three rows of pews. This creates a new church capacity figure The pews can be replaced with tables with displays, coffee and donuts to encourage fellowship, and materials emphasizing evangelistic work. The materials need updating at least monthly. Second, in a full church, have folding chairs ready to use as the auditorium fills up, put the chairs out, AS NEEDED, for late comers. Try to maintain an 80% to 85% capacity. The chairs carry the idea of welcoming visitors and members. This eliminates the sardine effect of having to move closer, being told to move closer, and conveys the ideas of always room for one more. Over 80% capacity, the alternatives for leadership are: (1) add another service, (2) add an addition to the auditorium, (3) relocate to a larger building, or (4) divide and start another church.
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****************************************************** "Managing Transitions" can be bought from Barnes and Noble with a 20% discount for $15.20 (paperback) plus shipping and handling at http://webminister.com/barnes/book5010.htm .
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