A Facilities Use Agreement should be used when people want to use the church’s property, building, or other resources. The person or organization who wants to use the facilities should be required to sign this agreement.
Some question whether there should be a charge for facility use. I recommend a congregation not charge for the use of their building – to make it clear the permission is a charitable act, and not a for-profit commercial enterprise. Of course, you may want to charge for cleaning expenses or even utility costs, etc. However, I highly recommend that any charge you put in place be well below what a person would pay to a commercial facility in the business of renting out meeting facilities. Again, to the extent possible, I would recommend charging nothing, except perhaps a cleaning fee.
Between college and law school, Gary married his college sweetheart, Michelle Hayes. They have three wonderful children – Lauren, Elizabeth, and Mark.
Since 1998, Gary and Michelle have made their home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary has been a minister at the Mountain Creek Church of Christ since 2000 and the regular pulpit minister there since 2004. Since 2001, Gary has owned his own law firm in Chattanooga, serving the underprivileged who have been injured or taken advantage of by others.
Gary learned to wear multiple hats from his parents. His dad worked a full-time job, farmed, and has served as an elder in the Lord’s Church for over 25 years. His mother worked a full-time job, raised children, and taught Bible classes. True to form, Gary owns his own law practice and preaches full-time, including several speaking engagements in lectureships and meetings every year.
- Facilities Use Agreement Form - February 19, 2016
- Should We Make Exceptions to our Policies? - February 19, 2016
- Bylaws for the Local Congregation - August 10, 2015