When Your Church magazine approached me about writing an article on the changing face of church design, I was thrilled about the opportunity to delve into this important issue.

But as I did my research—reviewing my own projects, talking with pastors and other architects—it at times seemed more like I was working on a thesis project than just an informative article! This subject matter can easily spin off in a number of directions, each equally interesting and significant when looking at a complete picture of the elements that influence trends in design.

When I approached pastors with questions regarding design trends and their thoughts on the matter, their responses were so varied that I soon found myself thrust into theological discussions better suited for a Bible college! Responses from pastors ranged from disappointment "with the apparent abandonment of the traditional designs in favor of designs that 'package' God to meet society's wants and desires" to support for more contemporary approaches "because they utilize 'less scary' designs that draw more people to the church to hear God's Word."

So, the question is, how can we continue to best constructively address the changing face of church design? Let's look at a few comprehensive factors.

Changes in Appearance
Beginning with outside appearance, we all know that there has been a divergence from traditional church design over the years. Fifty years ago, the prevalence of outstanding and ornate church steeples was unmistakable. Now, while many such beautiful structures still provide a mainstay of ministry in many communities, a new church look often presides. Today, a drive down an area freeway may provide the sight of several warehouse-looking church buildings with attractive contemporary stained glass window-walls as highlighted features. And a jaunt to a main downtown intersection may put you within sight a half dozen storefront churches, scrunched between the local nail salon and McDonald's.

Without centering too much on the popular debate as to whether a church should look "traditional," there are other factors that continue to influence church design. Three of the top factors affecting design changes are cost, cost, and cost—of land, construction, and technology.

The cost of purchasing and developing land is one of the biggest challenges churches face today. Especially in larger urban areas, churches that want to grow or have outgrown their existing facilities are often forced to consider spending exorbitant amounts of money to purchase available land (if it even exists nearby), moving to a larger piece of property, or changing their design vision so their structure can fit into available local space. As the costs of real estate and construction continue to escalate, churches must often seek new and different means that allow them to grow without incurring insurmountable costs.

Now the question becomes: Is "old" always better and "new" always bad? Not necessarily. We are directed to be smart stewards of the resources God has blessed us with, and if newer construction methods, materials and technology can be utilized to further ministry, it is wise to at least consider them.

Frankly, one reason that "traditional" or ornate features, which can certainly add to the beauty of a facility, are often "axed" from church building budgets is simply the cost factor. Top quality materials and specialized craftsmanship cost more than ever. Of course, a move toward more contemporary tastes also plays a significant role in this shift. But it is interesting to note that there has been a recent shift back toward the desire to incorporate traditional structural elements if budgeting allows.

Multipurpose Buildings Arise
Another ongoing trend has been the emergence of multipurpose church buildings, structures that can be used for just about any ministry. One large room may be used as a sanctuary for worship services, the children's ministry area on youth night, and a senior center during weekday hours. Decisions to go in this building direction are often economical rather than solely operational. For example, if there's a need for a sanctuary and a gymnasium, but finances dictate that only one can be built now, one building can be constructed for both uses—with some design and material adjustments.

But a sanctuary doubling as a gym isn't always a good solution. As Pastor Rob Watkins of Calvary Baptist Church in Yucca Valley, California says, "Our congregation would not feel comfortable worshiping in a gymnasium. During our phased construction process, we are having our family life center designed in a way that it will be used only as our sanctuary for the interim. Once our main sanctuary is complete, it will revert, with simple modifications, to our multipurpose family life center."

Only time will tell whether the desire for a multiuse church building is only a trend. Recently, the industry has seen churches shy away from the generic building concept in favor of more traditional sanctuaries. Still, in looking toward the future of the church, there will always be a need for economical and multifunctional space.

Technology's Influence
Whether an architect is designing a more traditional church building, a modern megachurch, or converting a strip mall store front into an urban sanctuary, congregations can now look to the latest trends in technology to assist in their worship services. Even more than the exterior, the changing face of church design is becoming more rooted in the interior, stemming from the constant advancement of technological capabilities.

Just a few years ago, building committees often entertained the idea of using multimedia technology—until cost was discussed. Many didn't like the idea of anything distracting from the message. And the fact that technology was expensive made it easy to eliminate it from the project budget.

Now, as computer technology has advanced and prices have come down, more and more churches are seeing the benefits of technology—and that it can enhance the message.

Pastor Brian Dunlop of Lighthouse Baptist Church in La Verne, California concurs: "The multiphased plan of building our sanctuary and educational buildings has been designed to incorporate the advancement of technology. We want to stay centered in our more traditional surroundings, but also keep up with the times and use the available technological resources as helpful communication tools."

Each year, more churches are moving from printed outlines and hymn lyrics to using overheads, slide projectors, and integrated PowerPoint presentations designed to enhance every part of their services.

Technological advances have also increased the capabilities of churches to add contemporary praise bands and enhanced drama productions on a par with performing arts centers. Drama and contemporary music have been incorporated into worship at different levels for some time—usually with the inconvenience of moving choir risers, chairs, and pulpits to make room. Now, with the added capabilities of computer light and sound control and multimedia screens, the music and productions often have their own dedicated ministry niches and facilities.

Larger platforms that can be manipulated into different configurations are becoming the norm. State-of-the-art production rooms are being added that complement church sound booths. And we're just getting a taste of what these capabilities can offer worship services.

The Architect's Role
The role of the architect in developing the design of a church has long been debated in professional circles. The big question is, who should have the most influence on the finished form—the pastor and ministries, or the architect, whose profession it is to design buildings? For architects, this question is best summed up by asking, Does form follow function or does function follow form? Should the form and structure of church buildings dictate how ministry is conducted, or should the ministry itself be the guide for the form the actual structures take?

I strongly believe that the ministry should be the guide. While an architect puts the physical form to a church, the church should define the actual physical form its structure takes. Buddy Siebenlist A.I.A. of Siebenlist Architects in Tyler, Texas, agrees: "It is our role to become familiar with the ministry of the church and provide them with a facility that reflects the ministry and provides them the space they need to carry it out efficiently."

It's also part of an architect's role to be sensitive to a church's natural reluctance to make changes. Change comes hard to some individuals, and the same goes for many churches. Yet change is a fact of life. And for churches, any changes—whether in something as intangible as a mission statement, or something as tangible as the building's design—must be centered in the ministry, God's work. When that is kept at the forefront of each building decision, God somehow always makes the direction clear.

The face and interior of church buildings will probably continue to change over time, but no matter what the final form, we can rejoice in knowing that the heart of the matter remains the same: Every church building and ministry has the extraordinary opportunity to share God's Word and his infinite grace and love.

Greg Lefler is principal architect and founder of Lefler and Associates in Thousand Oaks, California. He has more than 15 years of experience in church design and planning.