Third place and the Church

The Embedded Church Podcast

In this episode, Eric and Sara Joy chat with Pastor Scott Woller about the model of building both a church and a coffee shop. While Pastor Scott does not say it directly, in essence, he aimed to develop a "third place." Third place is a term coined by Ray Oldenburg to describe those places that we find ourselves visiting on a fairly regular basis that are not our homes and not our places of work. Third places can take a variety of forms. They can be coffee shops, pubs, barber shops, or even a collection of mailboxes near some seating. Third places play a crucial role in connecting people in a neighborhood and breaking down barriers presented by demographic differences.

With a mission to reach the urban dweller who may have little interest or experience with a church, Scott and his wife started Corner Coffee as a way to connect with neighbors and build relationships within walking distance of where they live and worship. He started Corner Church alongside Corner Coffee in order to reach regular customers in the neighborhood with the gospel.

A distinctly different model than a church with a coffee shop in the lobby, Corner Coffee is the main user and lease holder on the property and Corner Church leases space from the coffee shop in order to meet there on Sundays. The pastoral staff of Corner Church also serve in management, service, and administrative capacities for the coffee shop. The financials between the church and the coffee shop are completely separate, and Pastor Scott shares about the risky and sometimes tough road it has been to build both a profitable business and a sustaining church. Despite the difficulties, they have been dedicated to creating a place that cultivates regular, consistent interactions with the neighborhood so they can make a difference in people's lives. A coffee shop has been their chosen venue for turning a localized customer base of "regulars" into friends and community members.

He also discusses their church's foundation of evangelism being centered on "redefinition." This approach means they want to be at the forefront of redefining what is means to be a follower of Christ, what it means to be the church, and walking relationally with people through the learning process. This is their "why" and what motivates them to continue pressing into the daily grind of coffee shop work and pastoring. Since its inception in the North Loop in 2005, Corner Church has planted three additional coffee shops and churches in walkable neighborhoods in the Minneapolis metro area.

Eric and Sara Joy also speak with two field guides who expand upon the concept of third places in communities and the important role these play in our civic relationships and well-being. Hazel Borys with PlaceMakers shares her definition of third place, why these spaces matter, and important characteristics that make them successful. Rich Heyman from the University of Texas provides the historic background on the development of third places and the positives and negatives that can be associated with these communal spaces.

Episode Contributors

Scott Woller is the North Loop Pastor of Corner Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Rich Heyman is a Lecturer in the Department of American Studies at University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include cultural geography, urban geography, critical theory and Marxism, history of geography, pedagogy, and public space. He recently contributed to an article in The Atlantic entitled Do Yourself a Favor and Go Find a ‘Third Place’.

Hazel Borys is the Managing Director at PlaceMakers. As Managing Principal, Hazel inspires the company to deliver an exceptional product to a developing marketplace. She guides governments through zoning reforms — allowing walkable, mixed-use, compact, resilient places to develop by-right — and helps developers get things built under the increasingly-prevalent form-based codes and character-based land use laws of the new economy.

Access more Show Notes with pictures and resources related to this episode. Sign up for the free online Community Forum on August 23, 2022 to discuss this episode with Eric, Sara Joy, and Chris and other podcast listeners. Register today!

More information about this podcast and helpful church and urbanism resources can be found on The Embedded Church website.

Related Resources

Corner Church

Corner Coffee

PlaceMakers

Do Yourself a Favor and Go Find a ‘Third Place’ - The Atlantic

The third place: What is it & how does it relate to coffee shops? - Perfect Daily Grind

The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg

Season 5: Episode 2 - Social Infrastructure and the church - The Embedded Church Podcast

Find these Key Terms on The Embedded Church website:

- Pedestrian Shed

- Proximity

- Third Place

- Social Capital

- Suburbanization

- Zoning

Show Credits

Hosted and Produced by Eric O. Jacobsen and Sara Joy Proppe

Edited by Adam Higgins | Odd Dad Out Voice Productions

Theme Music by Jacob Shaffer

Artwork by Lance Kagey | Rotator Creative