pews vs. chairs debate
Because apparently I love to stir the pot, we are going to revisit the pews vs. chairs conversation. Actually, let me say that better: we have kicked this can far enough down the road and as much as I’d like to, we can’t delay it much further.
Our poor pews have served faithfully for a long time, but they are showing their age. The fabric is wearing thin, there are already several visible tears, and yes, if we are being honest, they are starting to smell a little like decades of faithful church attendance. In other words, we are not just asking, “Do we like pews or chairs?” We are asking, “What is the wisest and most faithful thing to do with seating that clearly needs attention?”
Our elder board is a big believer in doing things with excellence (not luxury, not extravagance, but excellence). This is the Lord’s house, and we want it to be warm, welcoming, functional, and cared for. So the goal is to lay out the options clearly and honestly so we can think through them together.
We will let the church vote, and once a decision is made, we will move forward together. Some will prefer pews. Some will prefer chairs. That is okay. But whatever we decide, we will choose unity over furniture, mission over preference, and the gospel over personal taste. Long live democracy... and even more, long live the peace of Christ in His church.
Current Seating
Our current sanctuary has on paper approximately 280 comfortable seats. However, in real-life use, pews do not function at full capacity. Because there are no defined individual seats, people naturally spread out. A pew that could seat six may often seat four or five. A pew that could seat four may only seat three. This means our actual usable seating is often lower than the theoretical number. With chairs, each seat is clearly defined. That usually allows a room to seat people more efficiently because every spot is obvious and usable.
With sanctuary chairs, we believe we could comfortably fit approximately: 292 chairs with slightly more room in the aisles. This means chairs would likely give us more usable seating, not just more theoretical seating. This is a super important consideration. The cost (18-20K) is roughly the same to replace the chairs or to recover them (except if we need new foam, then the cost goes up dramatically, plus the cost of hiring someone to remove and deliver 10 at a time on Monday and installing them again Friday makes the cost quite a bit higher over chairs. Here’s a few pro’s and cons:
Biggest Reasons to Keep and Recover the Pews
1. Pews have a classic sanctuary look. “The old is better.” Luke 5:39 Jesus said it. Team Pew!
There is no question that pews give the sanctuary a traditional, warm, church-like appearance. They help the room feel established, reverent, and familiar.
For many people, pews simply “feel like church.” They contribute to the character of the room.
2. Pews help preserve the current visual identity of the sanctuary
Chairs can look very nice, but they usually create a more modern or multipurpose feel.
Challenges with Keeping the Pews
1. The pews are aging and visibly worn- It’s biblical- Ecclesiastes 3:6 says “There is a time to keep, and a time to cast away.” A sober word about 1983 honey oak (originally we had chairs actually), and the fabric is worn, and the wood itself is also worn in many places.
Recovering the pew cushions would improve the fabric, but it would not fully address the aging wood.
2. Recovering the pews does not solve the wood finish issue
Even if we recover the pews, the honey oak wood remains. Restaining or refinishing all the pews would be difficult, labor-intensive, and expensive. I can’t even think of the hassle. Because of the amount of wood involved, refinishing would likely be a major project beyond simply replacing fabric and would easily triple the cost. But it is liveable as it currently is. Let’s kick the can on that to the next generation. ?
3. The cost of recovering is similar to replacing with chairs
The estimated cost to recover the existing pews — even just the material and without replacing the foam — is roughly equal to the cost of purchasing new sanctuary chairs. Replacing the foam would add considerable cost… We may have to for some of them. I vote the first 5 rows we put in some plush memory foam to encourage all the back seat Baptists to move up! That means we would be spending a significant amount of money while still keeping 40-plus-year-old pew frames, older foam, and worn wood.
4. Pews are less flexible- Pews are fixed. They limit how we can use the room for special services, prayer nights, conferences, children’s events, ministry gatherings, or alternate room layouts. Chairs would allow the sanctuary to remain a worship space while also giving us more flexibility when needed.
5. Pews may reduce real-life seating efficiency- Because people spread out on pews, we often lose usable seating. Chairs make each seat clear, which usually helps guests and members fill in more naturally.
Reasons to Move to Sanctuary Chairs
1. Chairs would likely increase usable seating- With chairs, each seat is defined. Instead of guessing how many people can fit on a pew, every chair is an obvious seat. Approximately 292 seats, compared to about 280. In actual use, chairs may provide an even greater advantage because people are less likely to leave undefined gaps.
2. Chairs would give us greater ministry flexibility. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” — 1 Corinthians 14:40 Clearly a command for interlocking sanctuary chairs in straight rows.
3. Chairs would modernize the room-New chairs would refresh the sanctuary and give it a clean, updated look while still allowing us to choose a style and color that fits the warmth of the building. “Behold, I am making all things new.” — Revelation 21:5 A dangerously powerful chair verse.
5. The cost is comparable to recovering the pews-Since the cost of recovering the pews is roughly equal to getting new chairs, chairs may provide more long-term value.
Challenges with Moving to Chairs
1. Chairs may not look as traditional as pews- Pews generally look nicer in a traditional sanctuary.
For those who love the classic sanctuary look, this would be a noticeable change.
2. Chairs require maintenance and organization-Chairs need to be kept straight, interlocked, cleaned, and occasionally moved. We would need a plan for resetting the room when the layout changes.
So before anyone proof-texts their furniture preference (like I did above) in defiance of the full and obvious violation of every hermeneutical principle I have ever taught you, let’s remember: Jesus did not die for pews or chairs. He died for His church. So let’s make sure this isn’t a matter of division.
The key question is not simply, “Which one do we like better?” A better question may be: Which option best serves the church’s worship, hospitality, stewardship, and ministry needs for the next season?
Oh, by the way, if you want to see a rendering, take a look here and take a 2 question survey.
Our poor pews have served faithfully for a long time, but they are showing their age. The fabric is wearing thin, there are already several visible tears, and yes, if we are being honest, they are starting to smell a little like decades of faithful church attendance. In other words, we are not just asking, “Do we like pews or chairs?” We are asking, “What is the wisest and most faithful thing to do with seating that clearly needs attention?”
Our elder board is a big believer in doing things with excellence (not luxury, not extravagance, but excellence). This is the Lord’s house, and we want it to be warm, welcoming, functional, and cared for. So the goal is to lay out the options clearly and honestly so we can think through them together.
We will let the church vote, and once a decision is made, we will move forward together. Some will prefer pews. Some will prefer chairs. That is okay. But whatever we decide, we will choose unity over furniture, mission over preference, and the gospel over personal taste. Long live democracy... and even more, long live the peace of Christ in His church.
Current Seating
Our current sanctuary has on paper approximately 280 comfortable seats. However, in real-life use, pews do not function at full capacity. Because there are no defined individual seats, people naturally spread out. A pew that could seat six may often seat four or five. A pew that could seat four may only seat three. This means our actual usable seating is often lower than the theoretical number. With chairs, each seat is clearly defined. That usually allows a room to seat people more efficiently because every spot is obvious and usable.
With sanctuary chairs, we believe we could comfortably fit approximately: 292 chairs with slightly more room in the aisles. This means chairs would likely give us more usable seating, not just more theoretical seating. This is a super important consideration. The cost (18-20K) is roughly the same to replace the chairs or to recover them (except if we need new foam, then the cost goes up dramatically, plus the cost of hiring someone to remove and deliver 10 at a time on Monday and installing them again Friday makes the cost quite a bit higher over chairs. Here’s a few pro’s and cons:
Biggest Reasons to Keep and Recover the Pews
1. Pews have a classic sanctuary look. “The old is better.” Luke 5:39 Jesus said it. Team Pew!
There is no question that pews give the sanctuary a traditional, warm, church-like appearance. They help the room feel established, reverent, and familiar.
For many people, pews simply “feel like church.” They contribute to the character of the room.
2. Pews help preserve the current visual identity of the sanctuary
Chairs can look very nice, but they usually create a more modern or multipurpose feel.
Challenges with Keeping the Pews
1. The pews are aging and visibly worn- It’s biblical- Ecclesiastes 3:6 says “There is a time to keep, and a time to cast away.” A sober word about 1983 honey oak (originally we had chairs actually), and the fabric is worn, and the wood itself is also worn in many places.
Recovering the pew cushions would improve the fabric, but it would not fully address the aging wood.
2. Recovering the pews does not solve the wood finish issue
Even if we recover the pews, the honey oak wood remains. Restaining or refinishing all the pews would be difficult, labor-intensive, and expensive. I can’t even think of the hassle. Because of the amount of wood involved, refinishing would likely be a major project beyond simply replacing fabric and would easily triple the cost. But it is liveable as it currently is. Let’s kick the can on that to the next generation. ?
3. The cost of recovering is similar to replacing with chairs
The estimated cost to recover the existing pews — even just the material and without replacing the foam — is roughly equal to the cost of purchasing new sanctuary chairs. Replacing the foam would add considerable cost… We may have to for some of them. I vote the first 5 rows we put in some plush memory foam to encourage all the back seat Baptists to move up! That means we would be spending a significant amount of money while still keeping 40-plus-year-old pew frames, older foam, and worn wood.
4. Pews are less flexible- Pews are fixed. They limit how we can use the room for special services, prayer nights, conferences, children’s events, ministry gatherings, or alternate room layouts. Chairs would allow the sanctuary to remain a worship space while also giving us more flexibility when needed.
5. Pews may reduce real-life seating efficiency- Because people spread out on pews, we often lose usable seating. Chairs make each seat clear, which usually helps guests and members fill in more naturally.
Reasons to Move to Sanctuary Chairs
1. Chairs would likely increase usable seating- With chairs, each seat is defined. Instead of guessing how many people can fit on a pew, every chair is an obvious seat. Approximately 292 seats, compared to about 280. In actual use, chairs may provide an even greater advantage because people are less likely to leave undefined gaps.
2. Chairs would give us greater ministry flexibility. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” — 1 Corinthians 14:40 Clearly a command for interlocking sanctuary chairs in straight rows.
3. Chairs would modernize the room-New chairs would refresh the sanctuary and give it a clean, updated look while still allowing us to choose a style and color that fits the warmth of the building. “Behold, I am making all things new.” — Revelation 21:5 A dangerously powerful chair verse.
5. The cost is comparable to recovering the pews-Since the cost of recovering the pews is roughly equal to getting new chairs, chairs may provide more long-term value.
Challenges with Moving to Chairs
1. Chairs may not look as traditional as pews- Pews generally look nicer in a traditional sanctuary.
For those who love the classic sanctuary look, this would be a noticeable change.
2. Chairs require maintenance and organization-Chairs need to be kept straight, interlocked, cleaned, and occasionally moved. We would need a plan for resetting the room when the layout changes.
So before anyone proof-texts their furniture preference (like I did above) in defiance of the full and obvious violation of every hermeneutical principle I have ever taught you, let’s remember: Jesus did not die for pews or chairs. He died for His church. So let’s make sure this isn’t a matter of division.
The key question is not simply, “Which one do we like better?” A better question may be: Which option best serves the church’s worship, hospitality, stewardship, and ministry needs for the next season?
Oh, by the way, if you want to see a rendering, take a look here and take a 2 question survey.
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