Megachurch parking ministries set standard for church transportation demand management

Hal Breedlove directs traffic before the 9 am service. Stephanie Oberlander, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot.

The article, "Parking lot ministries tend to flock like a shepherd," in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot describes a way forward for parking management practices for inner city churches. (I don't have a problem with double parking and special accommodations for church parking on Sundays, because the alternative--tearing down houses for parking lots used 3-6 hours/week, is a negative contribution to neighborhood livability.)

From the article:

... The men in green are Spring Branch's Parking Ministry, volunteers who ensure that Sunday morning traffic doesn't create hell at the busy megachurch. "It's all for the greater good, to help people get to church in a safe, efficient manner," said Thoma, who heads the group.

Many churches do not have parking ministries. Among the local exceptions is Calvary Revival Church, a Norfolk megachurch where the parking team is known as Gideon's Army.

At Spring Branch, the team's task is daunting. Sunday attendance regularly exceeds 1,500, with a high volume of visitors unfamiliar with the church campus. At midmorning, a riptide of early-bird worshippers surges out just when the late-service crowd is flowing in. There's the occasional unrepentent king-of-the-road driver and the predictably just-in-time crowd. "We're parking literally half to three-quarters of the congregation in the last five minutes," Thoma said.

Parking cars may seem lowly, muck-out-the-stable work compared to the sanctified glory of church posts like deacon or minister, but to the Rev. Michael Simone, Spring Branch's senior pastor, the parking team personifies ministry. "Somebody greets you with a smile, waves you to the right places, says good morning - it's the first touch of the light of the church for most visitors," he said. ... The ministry also is an appealing entry point for men new to church volunteerism. (No women have joined, though the 20-member team is open to both genders).

This parking lot was constructed by the Pilgrim Baptist Church at 7th and I Streets NE, after letting two frame houses go to seed, which then justified their demolition. The houses were more than 125 years old. This lot is a nonconforming use, but the permit to construct it was granted mistakenly. The local ANC didn't have a majority of votes to challenge the permit, due to pandering by some of the Commissioners, who felt that churches were exempt from law and/or other reasons. Better a parking ministry than the loss of houses...