Editor's Note: The following article is an excerpt from "Churches ... Before You Build," by Bill Couchenour.
For all my exposure to information technology, I still have not been able to get past the novice stage. One thing I do know is that if you are using a certain software application to accomplish a project and it's the wrong software or, worse yet, gets a virus, you are unlikely to have a successful project.
In a similar way, the building committee is like the software the church uses to accomplish the building project. If the software isn't right, it is unlikely the church will end up with what they need to facilitate their ministries.
That makes the selection of the building committee members critical in every program. I have personally worked with building committees that range anywhere from one person to 45 people in charge of the process. My experience has been that the optimum number for most churches is somewhere around five to seven members. And who those people are is important. Here are 10 qualifications to consider when selecting a building committee:
10. Knowledge of the Building Industry  I have intentionally made this the least of the 10 requirements. All too often, church leadership will set up a building committee of people that are familiar with the building industry but unfamiliar with where the church is headed. That is disastrous. Knowledge of the building industry is helpful but not a substitute for any of the other qualifications.
9. Planning Skills  Skills in analysis and decision making are necessary to move forward in a positive direction. Creativity or thinking outside the box is often necessary to find the right solutions.
8. Diligent Worker  Most building committee members volunteer their time and talents. They usually have families, careers and other circumstances that will make demands on them. Building committee members need to be diligent enough to faithfully fulfill the responsibilities of the committees without sacrificing the other important aspects of their life.
7. Varied Background  A building committee with varied backgrounds will give you well-rounded insight into solutions for the building process. It will also help you gain broader support from the congregation.
6. Independent Team Player  I am aware of the apparent oxymoronic quality of this characteristic. What I mean here is the ability to be an independent thinker and not be swayed by someone else's emotional but illogical idea. But committee members should also be able to work as a team so that they support every decision 100 percent when they leave the meeting, regardless of whether or not it was their idea.
5. Common Sense  There are a lot of outside forces and agendas that come to bear on a project. Common sense is often the tool that dismantles the outside agendas that can be disruptive to moving forward with the right project.
4. Respected by the Congregation  For a building program to progress, let alone succeed, it will need the support of the congregation. The members of the building committee must have the integrity that engenders trust. They will be administrating a substantial amount of the church's resources.
3. Emotional Intelligence  Daniel Goldman describes the four major components of emotional intelligence as: self-awareness, self-managing, social awareness and relationship management. Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage your emotions and the interests of others to accomplish the highest purpose.
2. Thorough understanding and uncompromising support of the strategic ministry objectives of the church  For the project to be a success, it must meet the needs of a purposeful ministry strategy. If the building committee is unable to understand and articulate the ministry strategy, it is unlikely the resulting facilities will be exactly what the church needs.
1. Exemplary Christian Life  Each building committee member should conduct his life in a way that garners respect from the members of the church as well as the community. I almost didn't include this because it seems like it would be automatic. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes things that go without saying need to be said more often.
Notice there is no mention of a qualification as a major financial contributor. That status should neither qualify nor disqualify someone from serving on the committee. An invitation to service on the building committee should be based on these 10 qualifications, not on what individuals have contributed.
I believe the top two qualifications are non-negotiable. They cannot be sacrificed regardless of what else an individual brings to the table. With qualifications one and two alone, you could develop an excellent building committee. But for the building committee chairperson I would suggest that the top three are non-negotiable. That person will need emotional intelligence to navigate the inevitable challenges and opportunities that accompany a building program.
An excellent building committee is not one that is unified in its perspective and insights. It is the variety of these perspectives and insights that gives breadth and depth to the committee's work. An excellent committee will, however, have a reconciling attitude that enables them to move forward together in the process. Strive for community of spirit, not unity of perspective.
The goal of any project is to develop the facilities that best meet a purposeful ministry strategy and comprehensive financial plan; while keeping the focus on the ministry. Just like the right software enables you to effectively accomplish a project, the right building committee can help you achieve this goal.
Bill Couchenour has served as president of Cogun since 1994. Cogun is a member of the Cornerstone Alliance, which provides research and education to churches concerning construction-related issues and trends.
