A Guide to Developing and Implementing a Facilities Expansion and/or Relocation Project for the Small to Mid-Sized Church

Most churches, at some time in their history, will need to purchase land and build meeting facilities. This process requires special skills in areas where most pastors have little training. Yet, they are often called upon to lead the church through the process of securing land, developing building plans, and constructing the facility. They are also often responsible for implementing a capital campaign in order to raise funds for these projects.

Although professionals can be secured by local churches in order to accomplish any of the matters pertinent to land, buildings, and capital campaigns, it is the thesis of this paper that small to mid-sized churches often have adequate resources to accomplish these objectives. They also receive great congregational benefit by going through this process without the aid of professional fund-raisers and consultants.

The author drew upon interviews of pastors and church leaders who have completed this process, as well as, resources from professional consultants and authors. From this research he developed this manual which leads a congregation through the process of land purchase, building development and construction, and, a capital campaign. Special emphasis is placed upon the planning and implementation of a capital campaign.