Overcoming Resistance To Your Church Remodel
Lately, I’ve had a few conversations with a running theme. A remodel is on the horizon, but there is resistance from people on the staff, the board, or from within the church. If they could see what you see, they would realize what a positive change this will be for the church. So how do you overcome objections to change and get people excited about the project?
I have a working theory that 90% of overcoming resistance to change is in how you communicate the proposed change. If you can communicate with compassion, understanding, and a pure motive, while addressing fears and validating concerns, you can almost always get even the most tentative church members on board with your remodeling project.
Usually, objections fall into three categories: we like it the way it is, we don’t want change for the sake of change, and the change is too expensive. First, let’s take a look at each of these objections and the motivation behind each of them. Then, let’s look at how we might approach communicating the change to people with each objection.
OBJECTION: We like it the way it is.
Most of us find solace in the familiar. However, there is a small segment of the population (let’s call them “change unicorns”) who light up at the thought of change. These change unicorns get exhilarated at the idea of continual switch-up, a shake-up of their routines, and just love a surprise. But generally, most people like to know what to expect. We are creatures of habit and love to be comfortable.
Similarly, our faith represents a constant for us in an ever-changing world. You know the hymn:
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.
The place we go to worship can feel like a physical representation of that eternal truth. So when change is introduced, it can feel very threatening. Especially if someone has grown up in the same church, sitting in the same pew, and going into the same buildings, it can be very alarming when things begin to change!
COUNTER: Imagine the way it could be!
Many of us don’t come from a place of “vision,” which is why we need leadership to cast vision and show us what the possibilities are. When communicating with people who are satisfied with the existing design, sometimes it’s a matter of flipping the script and showing them what is possible. For example, you might say something along the lines of:
“The current design served us well in the past. Remember how excited we were when it was first finished? We want people to have that same excitement now.” Or,
“In the same way we get the urge to repaint our walls at home or redecorate a room in our house, the church deserves that same attention and desire to stay relevant and current.”
If we can get them to envision the new space or recapture that same excitement they had years ago when they were excited about a prior remodel, then we are on our way!
OBJECTION: We don’t want change for the sake of change.
If people don’t sense a purpose behind the change, they won’t embrace it. In his article “Don’t Change For the Sake of Change,” Michael Fisher cites two popular examples of companies that forced change that was unnecessary and not asked for. The first was when Coke adjusted its classic recipe and introduced “New Coke” in the 1980s, causing a huge stir and a lot of unhappy customers. What they did to the formula was NOT an improvement, and after public outcry, they quickly reverted to Coca-Cola Classic. The second was when Pepsi introduced Crystal Pepsi to make it look like a healthier, purer beverage. Crystal Pepsi was a bust - the taste was definitely off and it quickly disappeared into notoriety. These weren’t improvements, and if they were, these changes would still be around.
Change for change’s sake is pointless and can do a lot of damage to the trust between a leader and their followers. But knowing when change is necessary is a big part of leadership. And knowing when NOT to change is a big part of leadership too.
COUNTER: This change has a purpose.
I recently spoke with someone whose church was changing the decor to white walls and black trim across the entire building to create a sense of unity. This person felt sad and conflicted, because up until now the decor was a hodge-podge of colors and styles, which he felt fit their messaging since they are a melting pot of people from various backgrounds and churches to form one church family. He was worried that the change might be offputting, especially if it was just change for the sake of change.
I told him that the determining factor on whether the change is accepted lies in the way that the change is communicated. Even though the past hodge-podge design may have unintentionally reflected a melting pot idea, they could flip the script and say, “We value how we all have melted together, but now we are one family with one message. And a new environment will collectively connect us to our unified mission and purpose.”
Most people just don’t know what to expect, and if we provide some light on the path with clear communication about the purposeful change, they will rally around it and move with you instead of against you.
OBJECTION: The change is too expensive.
It’s wise to consider stewardship in undertaking a renovation. We need to be faithful with what God has entrusted to us. And just like in a marriage where usually one spouse is the spender and one is the saver, our church advisory teams are generally composed of both spenders and savers who have very crystallized views of how they justify spending money.
Even though a remodel might be a good change, putting out a huge chunk of money is a big step and can be a little scary, especially when it means tapping into reserves. So it makes sense that there would be some pushback, especially from those who are savers and feel more comfortable with the money in the bank instead of outside it. :)
COUNTER: This is a worthwhile investment.
I like to view remodels as investments. All buildings decay over time. Decor goes out of style, furniture breaks, finishes wear down, and features lose their shine. Remodeling smartly will yield a good return on investment. And putting money into making your buildings attractive to Gen Z and Millenial families will help grow your church. Helping your people see the remodel as an investment that will increase your church and propel you into the future rather than a drain will grow excitement about your remodel.
When pitching a remodel to members of your finance team who might feel it is too expensive, consider looping them into the fact-finding process. Schedule a call with the designer (hey, that’s me!) so they can ask questions about the project. We are often scared of the unknown, which prevents us from saying “yes!” So let’s make the process known and alleviate their fears!
While you may encounter more objections to your remodel process, these three objections and their counters have provided examples of how communicating kindly, clearly, and with understanding can often help win over people who aren’t so sure about the project. Of course, I’m always happy to talk to committees and boards about your design project, too, if you find you have a challenge on your hands!
The first step is to schedule your discover call and let’s talk about the possibilities for your church remodel!