MC | The Madison Church

Narrative and Facility Recommendations January 27, 2019

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O L SONL E W I S +A R C H I T E C T S The Madison Church Immersion Summary Report Narrative and Facility Recommendations NARRATIVE from Community Conversations COMMUNITY RESOURCE: SERVICE TO OTHERS Why We Exist & Who We Are: Purpose & Mission Everything we do should reflect back on why we exist. The over-arching view of Madison’s role in the community must grow, as some conversation participants observed, from its core values and sense of mission. “Everything we do should reflect back on why we exist. We just need to pay attention to that.” Another said, “What can we offer that would be unique, to be consistent with who we are as a church community?” Our prayer comes from listening to each other. Through this listening process, Madison listens both to its own friends and members, and to the larger population to which it is connected, about its significance. “Having these community conversations is our way of intentional prayer. With this prayer, we can find out our purpose and find that thing we want to do that manifests itself going forward. Our prayer comes from listening to each other.” You can apply the word of God to any generation. What sets apart the church’s conversational process is the faith-based component to its discernment. “Where you are now is not your relationship with church, but your relationship with the Lord … The church is a place where everyone can explore that relationship.” Another participant observed, “There is a generation gap … [what] stays the same is that you can apply the word of God to any generation, to any challenge.”

Provide an environment of grace, mercy, love, and non-judgment. Some of the offerings about the church’s core values were framed by ideas such as “We can provide an environment of grace, mercy, love, and non-judgment.” And “we want our youth to be well grounded, to believe in God, what family represents, and making good choices.” As well, they expressed a sense of connection to the town and valley, as people of faith, with an ethical responsibility to meeting the needs of the community. “As Christians, we would be … responsive to the needs of the community.” What arose as the main themes within the results of these conversations? Physical Center in Madison • Opportunity:

First of all, the focus turned toward Madison’s need for a physical and social community center. This was seen as an opportunity. One person noted, “There is a need and everyone in town is supportive of a community center.” Participants inventoried other available public spaces. People found most potential spaces lacking for different reasons: size, accessibility, affiliation, or atmosphere. Observations ranged from, “We don’t have a downtown or a coffee shop” to “…there are only a few places for the public to meet or gather.” Another stated, “We don’t have a gathering spot in town anymore. A committee was formed a year ago to find a place.” One person added, “We really only have the meeting room at town hall, the library meeting room, the school gym, the church undercroft, and

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the church sanctuary. There is no medium sized space.”

• Church’s Presence:

While considering assets among the town’s architectural infrastructure/context, many people commented on the church’s landmark role and physical prominence in town. Comments included: “You have a wonderful, historic church” and “there is that old New England appeal” and “the church is one of the centerpieces of Madison.” Another participant said, “The Madison Church is a 200-year-old foundation from which to build a community center.” The church was favorably perceived, by many, as a possible site for a community center. Some people felt affinity to the church, due to its presence and role at the heart of Madison. “Madison Church is already community. I don’t belong to the church, but it is MY church. We see the Madison Church as the center of town.”

• More Support for Non-Public Site &

Program: At the same time, the predominant opinion advised fiscal prudence with regard to committing funds to the creation of a community space. “It has to be done in an economically feasible way.” Some participants observe that the church may have greater resources — or capacity to inspire major contributions for such a center — than the town might raise as a public project. Even the programs hosted within such a community center might have greater support if not publicly funded. “When the Town hosts these events, people will often associate their taxes to the expense of the venue, the publicity, the supplies, and time.”

• Polarizing or Neutral?

The church’s communal prominence becomes symbolic. For some participants, its religious identity polarizes potential users, excluding some and welcoming others. Other participants consider its identity to be neutral (note: these may have been

congregants versus external neighbors and users, betraying a bias within the congregation). Overall, neutrality was seen as a desirable characteristic for a community center.

In some cases, the church was seen as a more neutral space than government or political places. “The church is more neutral and people who participate more willingly contribute their time, talent and treasures.” Others considered it neutral due to its lack of affinity with other institutions or agencies. “Many of my friends and I would just like a place to [??talk] or play … A place to gather. A neutral place we can call our own.” Finally, one person observed, “We need to exchange ideas, and it is less intimidating to do it over a cup of coffee than in a row of chairs at town meeting or even in church. It is a neutral spot where you can have a conversation with each other.” Another person reiterated, “A church building is less political and with less “rules”, more welcoming.” In other cases, its religious affiliation was perceived as a barrier to usage. The concept of a community space that had some distinction from or physical separation from the church’s worship-oriented space was seen as positive. “Some of our friends might feel uncomfortable coming to church, even if it’s not a church service. Some of them might worry about how they would be viewed by their peers for associating with a church. More kids would come if the place were neutral.” One person reflected, “Some believe if we had the church suppers on the church property, we wouldn’t get as many people.” In What Ways Might Madison Church Serve as a Community Center? Community Resource: Public Gathering Space First of all, as observed above, the church might provide a physical gathering space for many civic users, organizations, and events. In a sense, it already fills this role, within its limited space, hosting many non-church affiliated functions, from the preschool to the food pantry. “In the admin office is the food pantry, choir materials, and everything else for the church and its activities.” It also welcomes

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community events for organizations such as the Historical Society. “The church is the go-to place in this community. If you want to get involved in this community, you need to get involved in that church.” • Multipurpose:

As people imagined a community center, they recommended a multipurpose nature, “a place where people could come for all sorts of different activities.” One person mused, “The facility could be a concert venue, or a preaching venue, or host conferences.”

• Separate Building on Church Campus:

Many people suggested that this multipurpose community center could occupy a site on the church’s campus, yet be functionally and physically distinct from the church: “a separate building with a commercial kitchen used for community events on church property.” One person imagined “a simple building … with enough room for a social hall (community room), a commercial kitchen, a place for the food pantry, and the Sunday school.” Another said, “If it is a separate building, community members might be more likely to use it. It wouldn’t feel like it was part of the church.” Several participants also named the wish for a youth space, which as one participant said, would be a “place to gather … a place we can call our own.”

• Connector Space:

In addition to the concept of a free-standing, or physically distinct, community center, themes of an accessible entrance, vestibule, porch, or open-air collector and connector space also emerged. This might be a place where entry and exit to both buildings could occur. This same connector/collector space could also host casual socialization and gathering. One participant said, “We’ve gotten rid of the prelude, because people are talking and gathering. We want to encourage that. If you had a separate space, it would happen there instead.” As one person said, “If an after-church facility were easily accessible, it is more likely for people to stay for coffee hour.” This

concept could be expanded to a separate entrance that provides egress to both structures, yet comprises its own functions. One person reflected on a nearby church’s entryway, which also functions as its coffee space and socializing area. “There are monitors in the coffee area so those who want to come to the church but are uncomfortable attending the service, can drink their coffee and watch the service from “afar”. … If I am new, I can stay outside the sanctuary, drink coffee and watch the service … For some, it is the baby steps to engaging with the church more fully.”

• Open and Welcoming:

Such a connector might have an expansive connection to the outdoors, such as a four-season porch or an enclosed space with expansive windows and light. One person said, “Being outside is a nice gathering. It lets more people linger longer. It captures those who might not want to traverse down to the undercroft.” Several other observations about use of outdoor space, perhaps framed by the structures on the campus, included, “After … services, people will go out into the parking lot and chat, rather than go to the undercroft. Even when the temperature is below freezing, people will prefer to be outside. In the summer, we’ll take the coffee outside. It is an opportunity to keep people connected.” Another person offered this formula: “Space should be cheerful, not stuck in the basement. There should be enough space, more accessible, better entry and daylight to make people feel welcome.”

Emotional-Spiritual Center In addition to its potential as a physical community center, Madison Church fills a role as an emotional and spiritual hub. “The people power is in the church. The church is a good group of good people. It involves a great part of the community.”

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• Intimate and Loving: One person simply observed, “That is what I see when I see the Madison Church. It is love, it is community. It is a nice little church, that is much more intimate…” Another said, “The community embodies warmth. The interaction between the church members is infectious and visitors respond positively.”

• Nonjudgmental and Neutral:

Non-judgment, as a variation on the theme of neutrality, was attributed as a positive characteristic of the church community. One participant said, “It is important that they know they are part of a community that will support them without judgment.” One neighbor said, “… it was strange that the church was non-judgmental and everyone just seemed glad you were there. His son remarked that it was not what made the church strange, but was what made it Christian.”

• Ethical Character Formation:

Many people emphasized the church’s role as a teacher of values. “Having a church that works with people of different places in their lives, different backgrounds, different beliefs, reduces crime and teaches responsibility.” One person suggested that the non-judgmental environment provides a deeper learning experience. “They also learn that when they don’t make a good choice, that they are going to be loved and supported. They know they can use it as a teaching opportunity. We can provide an environment of grace, mercy, love, and non-judgment. It is easier to fall on your face, get up and be better for it.”

• Peaceful and Calm:

For others, the church provides an emotional foundation for grounding and centeredness. “Now more than ever we need church to come back into the center of our lives. There are people who have expressed their anxiety about things that are happening.”

• Fun and Engaging: Speaking about the experience within the church’s own programming, one participant said, “It needs to be fun and engaging. You might not go to a place that you thought … was going to evoke fears or obligations to either a faith or belief to which you may not align.” Engagement was also perceived as multi-sensory. “Everyone has their own way they connect with the message. It might be visual, auditory, through the sermon, by reading, and through music. The more experiences woven during a service will connect to more people.” Another recalled experiences at a former church, “I remember the warmth and spirit of everyone there. Everyone was engaged. It would start out quiet and by the end it was a big party. It made people feel like a family. It connected people. It was a powerful experience I will never forget.”

• Intergenerational:

Several people suggested the church’s role in connecting different generations. One participant described his son’s connection to the church. “He has a community he can come back to with questions about his life, his experiences, his challenges. Giving them that foundation so they can deal with the life that is in front of them and still have that knowledge that they are loved and cared for.”

• Friendly and Welcoming:

Several people described the church’s welcoming nature. “People should feel that even if they are not a member of this church, that they can still be a part of it.” Others expanded on how the church might be even more friendly to new visitors, perhaps before they step foot in the building. “We could become the new “welcome wagon” in town. Reach out to new community members who have been in town, settling in. The church can become the facilitator for connecting families to the wider community.” Others thought of simple ways to greet new visitors: everything from offering a mint at the front door to “a gift bag with a mug and a card with ways to connect to the church, along with a card with the pastor’s

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name and how to contact him, and the projects and service projects in which they engage.” One person recalled, “The Deacons used to reach out to new families as they moved into town. We don’t do that anymore.”

• Family:

Many people discussed the church’s impact in strengthening family formation. “The next genesis is a growing faith community is a Family Life Center. The church is not just a place for worship, but it is also a place for community.

Service Connector Another way in which Madison Church may function as a central presence in the town is through its capacity to connect potential volunteers to community service. “There are certain churches that stand out to me as people to go to when we know the community needs help.” The church may assess needs, and match organizations, programs, resources and willing hands to help meet those needs. This extends its presence deeply into the fabric of community relationships, outside the walls of its buildings. One person, speaking from a faith-based perspective, suggested, “As Christians, we would be more responsive to the needs of the community than the town might.” Another said, “The church can be a place where the community can go, but also go out and help the community.” And another neighbor stated, “The connection to church doesn’t have to happen only on Sunday at worship service. There are opportunities to connect with each other in meaningful ways outside church.” • Assess Needs:

Some participants stated the possibility that the church might assess and become more familiar with community needs. This might occur in collaboration with or leveraging the information held by other agencies. “The Police and Fire Departments might sponsor a program to connect with local people to see where their needs might lie.” Others reinforced the church’s trusted role to create greater awareness of community

needs. “The challenge is identifying those in need and getting them to ask. That is where being a good neighbor comes in to have conversations, observe, listen, and seeing where the needs might exist.”

• Create Purpose:

Several participants reflected on the difficulty of encouraging potential clients or users to access services and resources. “Many people who may need services, often don’t think they do. There is a stigma to receiving “handouts”. How do you remove the stigma? There are some groups that have overcome this stigma … There is no program or agenda. Everyone is welcome. Reverse the invite. Ask those who may have a need to have them provide the giving to others.” Another person offered, “The more things you offer (i.e.: programs), the more comfortable people are willing to reach out and ask for help. This reinforces the value of having a community gathering place.” And another neighbor added, “It is often hard for people, who’ve been independent for so long, to ask for help.”

One participant addressed the appeal to people’s dignity, reframing their potential need as a sense of purpose. “Rather than ask if someone needs help, ask if they can help others. “We want to hear your story.” • Engage Volunteers:

Communities often have people, especially in NH, with time and energy and desire to give their time and talents. “There might be a network of volunteers to provide these services to those in need – especially to engage those beyond the church membership …Various agencies could collaborate.” One person observed the necessity to communicate the need for volunteers through personal outreach, which is a strength in churches. “Most people who don’t give or volunteer, when asked, say the reason is: “no one asked me”.

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One possibility is intergenerational volunteerism. For instance, “Perhaps a “Community Meal” where people of all ages attend. It would be a great way to connect elderly, single people, families, and youth in a common gathering.” Others discussed mentoring. “Life Bridge is a faith-based teen mentoring program. Just by interacting with adults is huge … These teens, whether they have both parents or they have one parent, or their grandparents are raising them, they need somebody just to talk to.” Social-Relational Hub Both as a worship center and a potential community center, available for social gatherings, the church may serve as a nexus for relationship-building. This emerged as a recurring theme among participants: the ways in which connection to the church reinforced kinships and friendships, a sense of belonging, and a social connection to the broader community. • Friends:

The church reinforces existing relationships and becomes a gateway to meeting more people. “You see your neighbors at church. We joined to see the people we know in town. We also met new people in town.” Through common activities, within or

outside the church, bonds are formed. “It is a good community building activity for people to do things together.” One person said, “The social interactions that take place before the service is just as much a part of the church experience as the service itself. Often, it is the only time people get to see each other.”

• Intergenerational Bonds: “There is an opportunity to connect the elderly and the youth to help each other.” One participant described a youth’s connection to an older church member. “My son works with a church member, [like a mentor,] outside the church.” Another observed, “For those of us who our children are grown and far away, knowing the families in our church who come, enhances the worship for all of us. To be able to get to know those families because our church is small enough, is an incredible asset.”

• Mentoring: As described earlier, shared experiences, whether through church-based activities or in volunteerism for other organizations, hold the possibility of mentoring between generations. “You might even teach someone else a skill they did not have. It is an opportunity to pass down skills and traditions to the next generation.”

MC | The Madison Church

Narrative and Facility Recommendations January 27, 2019

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O L SONL E W I S +A R C H I T E C T S

FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS The Madison Church Based on internal conversations and external discussions with neighbors and community constituents, main themes arose around the church’s role and resources. These themes included provision of a neutral connector-and-collector space and a community center. What Remains: Landmark Church. Functionally and physically, the church offers a prominent spiritual landmark through its historic church structure: visible from steeple to sanctuary. A familiar and beloved icon in town, this building is honored. Commentary from the conversations reinforced the desire to preserve its prominence and prevent any competing structures in the surrounding

landscape. The church’s members are thoroughly embedded in the community. Through their Sunday offerings and daily activities, they provide a deep personal and spiritual presence in the town that extends beyond the doors of the building.

Community Center: As concluded in the narrative, internal and neighborly conversations turned toward the opportunity identified in Madison’s need for a physical and social community center. One person noted, “There is a need and everyone in town is supportive of a community center.” Already, the church often hosts community and civic events and programs, either on-site or in neighboring spaces, as well as running church-affiliated programs. Yet the church’s own undercroft and administrative areas are

overcrowded, inaccessible to many, maxed out, and inconvenient: it cannot fully embrace the role of hosting public events and activities. Several people envisioned a new, free-standing building on (or adjacent to) the existing church campus, that would provide gathering space for community functions such as meetings, youth activities, festivals, dinners, classes, games, concerts and sales. Many people suggested that this multipurpose community center could occupy a site on the church’s campus, yet be functionally and physically distinct from the church: “a separate building with a commercial kitchen used for community events on church property.” One person imagined “a simple building … with enough room for a social hall (community room), a commercial kitchen, a place for the food pantry, and the Sunday school.” Another said, “If it is a separate building, community members might be more likely to use it.” Several participants also named the wish for a youth space, a “place to gather … a place we can call our own.” As mentioned, such a community center would include a commercial kitchen and multipurpose area. It might include dedicated space for specific functions such as the food pantry, youth or classes, or other community resources. Due to its physical and functional separation from the church, this proposed facility would take on an independence of purpose that broadens its appeal to multiple groups and users in the town, including those who might hesitate to enter or use spaces that fall beneath the roof of a traditional church.

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A Place of Perspective: These two spaces - church and community center - can be thought of as binaries or opposites. Yet they meet in the real world. The intersection between these two divergent spaces might create a safe, sacred place from which both are observed: a place of perspective. Both the church and community center are seen and understood from a neutral vantage point. Think of this connector space as a Venn diagram, where the overlap of the two experiences creates a sacred space of perspective. That neutral space becomes the collector or connector to both.

Neutral Collector-and-Connector/ Entrance–and-Activity Hub: Another concept that emerged was the concept of a neutral collector-and-connector space. Operating as an expanded vestibule or porch, it becomes a more intimate public space that serves as a centralized entrance and activity hub. It could provide secure and separate egress into either the landmark church or proposed community center. Based on conversational feedback, such a connector space might have an expansive connection to the outdoors, such as a four-season porch or an enclosed space with generous windows and light. Participants commented, “People will go out into the

parking lot and chat, rather than go [inside]. Even when the temperature is below freezing, people will prefer to be outside. In the summer, we’ll take the coffee outside. It is an opportunity to keep people connected.” This entrance and activity hub could also offer connection to an exterior space, perhaps framed by the church and community center buildings. As a neutral connector space, it might have an independent function for socializing and small group gatherings with coffee and lounge seating. In the spirit of a similar space created by a nearby church. “There are television monitors in the coffee area so those who want to … drink their coffee and watch … from “afar” … For some, it is the baby steps to engaging … more fully.” It could include multimedia access to events taking place in either the church or community center. This entryway and connector-collector space might also be open 24/7 — separate from the church or community center — as a safe and comfortable haven with some basic amenities such as a warm, dry shelter and bathroom. If the town’s resources include such features as access to a public toilet, assigned lockers or emergency food and clothing supplies, they might be more accessible in this neutral entry and socializing space.

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