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A Church Building Steering Committee
By Robert C. Foreman, Architect
Suggestions on committees and sizes

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An ideal committee size is no less than seven people and no more than 10. The committee should have both men and women, younger people as well as older. The committee people need to be visionary leaders who represent the entire congregation. It is not necessary for the committee to be made up of contractors, developers, tradesmen or subcontractors such as plumbers, masons, carpenters, etc. Some of these "specialists" should be on the construction or other subcommittees.

A small committee (steering committee) would be organized as follows:

1. Chairman (A leader)

2. Secretary (an organized record keeper) (may be non voting member)

3. Construction Subcommittee (vice chairman) 3 person subcommittee

4. Financial

5. Publicity

6. Program / Plan Subcommittee (large subcommittee)
        consists of a chairman with several key subcommittee members:

a. Nursery Preschool
b. Children / Youth
c. Adult Education
d. Worship / Worship
e. Fellowship / Kitchen
f. Administration & Media Center
g. Audio, Video and Lighting
h. Site / Grounds / Landscaping

7. Fund Raising - (Capitol Stewardship Campaign)

Additional subcommittees may include:

8. Interior Design (may be part of program subcommittee)

9. Church Growth

10. Property / Land / Acquisition

The more people you have on the main steering committee the less work you will get done. The more people you involve on subcommittees, the more real work will get accomplished in less time.

The chairman should be a key church leader who can work well with a diverse group of people, and who will guide them both organizationally and spiritually. The chairman must look at the "big picture" and be willing to leave the details to others.  He must be committed to what the church is doing.