On the Public Square

Over the course of my ministry in Fresno, the subject of relocation/expansion has come up numerous times. Even as late as our special called business meeting, the idea of what our future facility will be like was at the forefront of our discussion together. Should we relocate? How much land would we need? What would be the shape and design of the school? Should we make better use of the land we have? Could we expand our ministry and stay on our current plot of land? Where would we go? What area of the city should we be looking at for land acquisition?
Over the course of the last 100 years, where churches locate has changed dramatically. Prior to WWII, most churches were located as close to downtown as you could get. The major congregations were found somewhere in the vicinity of the town square, even on the square where possible. The big event was to go downtown to the farmer’s market or to go shopping or to go to church.
When the Greatest Generation returned from WWII, the expansion of housing created the suburbs. Churches looking to relocate looked to suburbia because that’s where the people were. Churches located on side streets rather than Main Street because they wanted to be in the neighborhood. First Church sought to be part of the wave of suburbia when it relocated far north of the city (our present location). Look around the city. Where are churches located? How many churches are on Shaw Ave.? How many on Herndon? The answer is few, if any, because churches looked to locate in neighborhoods not main thoroughfares. Businesses flocked to Blackstone Ave. – but not churches.
Enter the 70’s. Suddenly, the dynamic of American social life changed. Downtown shops were closing; cities were trying to figure out how to do urban renewal; people went to the Mall to do their shopping; neighborhoods became fluid; we became a more mobile society; people associated themselves with a church not in their neighborhood. Churches, like People’s Church, grew up less concerned with being in a neighborhood and more concerned with access and visibility. Now the issue became parking (in most modern church facilities, half the area they develop is for parking) and how close one was to a main thoroughfare. Accessibility became the buzzword for relocation of church facilities.
Now comes the 21st Century. We need a fresh look at who we are and what we do. I suggest that we look to be on the Public Square again. Today, the public square means to be where the people go not where they live. Imagine if we had been involved in purchasing land at River Park and were located where Target is or one of the big chain stores in that massive public area. Imagine if we could build on a spot and partner with Starbucks or a Christian Bookstore or a Fitness Center. Imagine being part of a complex that people came to for lots of reasons. You could have a major entrance called, “The Public Square” and inside, an enclosed walkway to take you to “the church @ first”, First Academy, First Steps, shopping, Starbucks or McDonalds. Once again, the church could reinsert itself into society rather than isolate itself from society. There is a Church of God in Casper, Wyoming that purchased a K-Mart that went out of business in a huge shopping area. They converted the loading dock, storage area into a sanctuary. They had wonderful lighting, sound conversions, and comfortable seating. The floor of the store became classrooms, a day care, church offices, and a fellowship hall. Rather than being out in the neighborhood, they were on the Public Square, where the people were already going. Since moving to the site, they have nearly doubled in size.
Think about it. It’s a new idea.