Interfaith Design

I have attended several of these WFX Conferences and I stopped attending them. I did so because they are driven to be a successful for profit business that is quite lucrative. These conferences are highly focused on the technology of mega-churches because they can rent our out conference exhibit space to audio video technology vendors and other vendors that cater to that market. WFX Conference attendance has dwindled recently because its narrow focus. WFX places very little emphasis on the quality of worship buildings and the worship experience. If one is seeking to enhance one's understanding of quality worship environments this is not the place to gain those insights.  
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Paul Harding FAIA
Past Chair
National Advisory Group
Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture
Partner
Harding Partners
Chicago IL
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As someone who has presented several times at WFX on quality of design subjects - and whose proposals have recently been turned down by the selection committee in favor of tech-oriented presentations - I must reluctantly agree with Mr. Harding.  I too have noted a sharp decline in attendance.  Our latest presentation on an award-winning project - focused on how to create meaningful, transformative spaces on a shoestring budget - was overshadowed (literally!) by a neighboring presentation on digital technology in worship.  Loud, dazzling and distracting seem to be all the rage; it's like PBS trying to compete with MTV.  The few who attended our presentation were inspired (by the bits they could actually hear amidst the cacophony pouring through the meager partitions).  The swooning multitudes attending the other presentation were no doubt blown away.  The affiliation with IFRAA may return balance to WFX...we live in hope.    
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James VanderMolen AIA
President
Elevate Studio
Grand Rapids MI
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Well said, Paul.
I must question whether such events are consistent with IFRAA's mission.

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James Williamson FAIA
Past Chair
National Advisory Group
Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture
Professor Of Architecture
University of Memphis
Memphis TN
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