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Church builders have long understood the problems congregations encounter with building projects. And they know how often buildings come in way over budget.

"Churches end up limping into their new building with a lot of debt," consultant Ken Dean of The Dean Group, explained. "It's very difficult to develop facilities," he said.

So builders are doing something to help.

"We started talking about the need to try to get some information and education out to the churches in North America," Dean said.

Many, such as Jim Couchenour of Cogun, have written books, pamphlets and articles. Then about three years ago, groups of builders began working together to educate leaders through conferences and workshops.

Rowland Companies, Aspen Group and Cogun builders formed the Cornerstone Alliance, with the mission to help churches organize and successfully execute strategic building projects.

Not only are building partners in the alliance because of their expertise in church construction, Dean said, "They also have a heart for the church, to make it a better informed group. This isn't just a marketing ploy."

In fact, Couchenour wrote a booklet encouraging church leaders to consider a multitude of other ways to continue to allow for growth in their congregation without building a new facility.

Conference clearinghouses

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Cornerstone began holding two conferences a year. They became part of the Willow Creek Association of churches, they joined in other church leadership development events, and upped their own conference offerings to six this year.

A similar group, the National Association of Church Design Builders, also organized three years ago to educate ministry leaders about the relationships they need to build their new facility in a timely and cost-effective manner. The workshops they offer year round are smaller (20 or 30 people), half-day, regional gatherings. They are offering nine workshops in 2005 — all of which focus on a team approach to building called "design-build."

"This represents a clearinghouse of information for churches on a national level," said Greg Barron, president of the association and president of the G.L. Barron Design-Build Construction Company of Fort Worth, Texas.

Pastors, business administrators, staff, lay leaders and building committee members attend these conferences to learn everything from running effective meetings, to financing and building trends.

"Facilities must be carefully tailored to suit a clear ministry vision, mission and core values," said Ed Bahler, founding member of the Alliance and CEO of Aspen Group.

The ministry aspect of church clients is seldom lost on these builders. In fact, most understand that it is the focus on ministry that makes church leaders less than informed about construction.

Sandy McNichols, customer relations coordinator for Aspen Group, said that building should be a time of excitement for churches not because of construction, but because of ministry opportunities.

"Church construction is an adventure," McNichols said. "It's an exciting time, but much of that excitement typically comes from facing risks without knowledge."

Seminars range between $40 for a four-hour NACDB session to $150 for an all-day Cornerstone conference.