Coworking entry from Wikipedia:
Coworking is an emerging trend for a new pattern for working. Typically work-at-home professionals or independent contractors or people who travel frequently end up working in relative isolation.[1] Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values[2] and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.[3][4]
Some coworking spaces were developed by nomadic internet entrepreneurs seeking an alternative to working in coffeeshops and cafes, or to isolation in independent or home offices.[5][6][7]
Business accelerators, business incubators and executive suites do not seem to fit into the coworking model, because they often miss the social, collaborative, and informal[8] aspects of the process, with management practices closer to that of a Cooperative, including a focus on community[9] rather than profit.[10] Many of the coworking participants are also participants in BarCamp[11] and other related open source technology activities.[12][13][14]
As I read that entry several words and related themes jump out at me…social, collaborative, synergy, community, cooperative, informal.
There is no doubt that coworking is a trend on the rise. John Saddington recently had a post over at Church Crunch, Coworking–A Model to be Copied?. John raises some great points and there is some good discussion in the comments section.
I’m also wondering what coworking would look like in churches?
I would like to see more and more churches move away from the executives offices/suites, and create more of an open space for staff members to share space/resources, collaborate and socialize as they work in the daily grind of ministry. Someone always raises the question of privacy when I talk about this issue, but that’s what shared private offices are for…so when someone needs to make a private call or have a private conversation…then they go in there. But I would like to see all levels of staff (from teaching pastor, executive pastor, directors, etc.) share space. The message that sends to others I think can not be discounted as the church and its staff model on a daily basis what it means to work together and share of resources, etc.
I also think it would be interesting that if when churches plant a sister church somewhere, especially in an urban area, that they don’t purchase or rent their own space, but that they cowork in that environment with others from various industries. How amazing would that be if church staff shared coworking space in an urban area with business people, tech people, social services, etc. Think of the synergy that could create, and think of the ideas that could be generated. It would especially be a beautiful opportunity for the church to not be walled off in its own little kingdom but to participate with others. It would offer an unique perspective for the church staff members as well, as they may be privy to new ideas and thoughts they would not get on a daily basis in their own space. Think of the the stewardship when it comes to the sharing of resources as well.
What do you think it would look like?
As for now I’m exploring the idea for my own life. I hold the belief that counseling/therapy needs to move out from the secret walls of many counseling offices and into more of a social space. I wonder if the stigma that often exists in attending therapy is due to the environment that we as therapists have created. I will talk more about this issue as it progresses.
Currently I have been following @cohabitat on Twitter, and their Facebook group CoHabitat–Uptown Dallas. I think Blake Burris has created a unique and great opportunity for various industries in the Dallas Metroplex to cowork together, hopefully creating some great synergy, and eventually transformation in many areas of Dallas. If you are interested in this idea, especially in the Dallas area, please contact Blake.
How about coworking in Los Angeles? Check out BlankSpaces.
Check out Jelly.
Curious on your thoughts…please share.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
whoa. i love the idea of new church plants and moving into co-working environments instead of building new office space…
that’s creative as all get out. and a ministry too!
something that my church back in austin is doing is creating office space for local small-biz that can rent the space right on the property…
way ahead of its time, but right on time as well!
something that i’ve also been considering is a “virtual” model to be considered… in light of the technology that’s available to us. the possibilities are endless… but there’s something about the flesh-and-real world where co-working may have more of an attraction.
not sure though yet.
Great thoughts. I’d love to see church offices look more like that, too.
I think it would be one of the coolest and best things ever for a church to share working space with other working professionals. How grounded would that church’s leadership be in the community and in the culture?!
Right now a huge struggle I face is how do i have real relationships with normal people who aren’t Christians. I work all day at church, my friends are from our church, and I dont have other activities where i could really meet people in a natural way, that doesn’t feel like I’m out to “win ‘em to Jesus”.
Man that is such a cool and exiting idea. keep it up Rhett!!!!
It’s an interesting idea and I love trying to reduce the footprint that churches consume, but I do think this is heavily weighted toward the extroverted personality type. As an introvert, and a pastor (not on a multi-staff) I’d go absolutely crazy in a place were I couldn’t shut the door and have some down time.
great idea Rhett, this is really cool. I’d like to join a blank space if it didn’t cost money.
Jim:
I hear what you are saying. I think there are still some ways to provide some privacy in co-working spaces. Some co-working spaces have private offices as well, or private rooms that people share. I like retreating to solitude, especially during sermon prep…but over the last couple of years I have enjoyed preparing the sermon in a more collaborative setting…used to get a lot of feedback from some of the youth ministry staff at my previous church as we sort of walked through the sermon process together. I really liked that part.
rhett
Rhett,
oops – I put this one the wrong post the first time….
Great post – this has been a major part of discussion over the last few years in what we do. I even visited a simular location in Santa Monica on my last visit to Bel Air – Here’s a recent post I did that was initiated from simular conversation:
http://thirdplaceconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/09/redefining-third-places-part-1.html
I never really thought about it, but guess I already have that sort of thing already built in, my wife is a solo pastor too at another church!
So we are often talking and collaborating on various ministry ideas, and some but not as much on the sermon writing process (we have totally different styles when it comes to that…)
Rhett – It was great meeting you last week. I finally got around to catching up on your post after catching your tweet over the break.
It’s interesting to read your thoughts on applying coworking principles to the church environment and counseling. You may be on to something! Go for it!
Watermark church – here in Dallas – had considered at one time opening up some tower space for rental to creative folks and other ministries which would have been a cool experiment.
If anyone reading this is in Dallas and seeking to get out your house, solo office, or just interested in meeting other local entrepreneurs and creatives, I welcome you to join the discussion on what CoHabitat should be. Here are some links to get started:
Facebook page: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Dallas-TX/CoHabitat-Uptown-Dallas/44970809001
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cohabitat
Thanks for helping spread the word Rhett and I look forward to seeing you around CoHabitat.
Thank you so much for linking to us at BLANKSPACES! We could do a special offer for your readers if you’re interested.
Robert
Hey Rhett. I somehow just found this blog months after you posted this entry. It’s a small world: I’ve known Blake for years back in the days when I used to live in Dallas myself (1995-1999), and now we both started coworking spaces.
Thanks for the mention!