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In virtually all Protestant churches, the pulpit is the focal point of the sanctuary. It is the main point of the service, where preaching and teaching take place. As important as the pulpit is in Christian churches, its use actually predates Christianity. In many ancient pagan temples, the priest would move about on a walkway, frequently surrounded by a banister, making announcements to onlookers. This walkway was called the ambo, from the Latin "ambon," meaning a scaffold or platform. The first Christian church buildings followed this tradition, putting an ambo inside the building, high upon a column.

The pulpit is mentioned in the Scripture only once, in Nehemiah chapter 8, where "Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion" of reading the Law of Moses to the people. This central use of the pulpit has continued throughout the ages.

Church furniture makers produce pulpits in a wide variety of styles and materials—from traditional to modern, and from modest to extravagant. The design and function of pulpits is limited only by imagination and budget.

In most cases, pulpit makers begin their designs with a look at the church. Does the look and feel of the proposed pulpit design and materials fit the aesthetics of the church? Equally important in pulpit design is preaching style. Many churches go so far as to change pulpits when a new minister arrives, to match his style of preaching.

Robert Jackson, president of Prestige Glass, in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada, breaks his clientele down into three groups: those who know exactly what they want; those who have a rough idea of what they want; and those who know only that they want a pulpit.

To meet the needs of the first group, it's common for pulpit manufacturers to custom-build products, in addition to having a catalog of standard pulpit designs. Reflecting this is Acrylic Podiums, of Los Angeles, California. "I think I have been asked for just about everything," says Joshua Munoz, president of the company. "We offer a wide selection of … standard designs, but we also have the ability to custom-make a pulpit. And although acrylic is our specialty, we can make a pulpit in any of our designs out of wood as well." In fact, Acrylic Podiums can produce pulpits in virtually any combination of wood and acrylic upon a customer's request.

An example of a customer in the first group is Kenneth Copeland Ministries. They went to Contemporary Design in Abilene, Texas. According to Monica Brown, marketing manager of the firm, "They knew what they wanted, and thanks to good computer graphics capabilities, we were able to fill their needs." When a customer approaches with a specific and detailed design, Jackson says, "Our job is to reproduce that design, down to the most intricate logo."

The second group has only a rough idea of what they want. "They need our assistance in bringing their ideas to fruition," says Jackson. "Thanks largely to computer graphics capabilities, we can easily take an idea, no matter how rough it is, and turn it into a beautiful design."

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