Thank You for Participating!

Thank you for being part of the Fort Wayne City of Churches Tour!

Each participating church is different, and that is one of the things that makes the Tour special. There is no required format for participating. Each church is welcome to host the Tour in whatever way works best for its parish and its building.

Some churches may offer guided tours or presentations. Others may have music, demonstrations, exhibits, refreshments, or special activities. Some may simply open their doors and welcome visitors to explore.

All of those approaches are welcome.

What Can Our Church Do?

Whatever works best for you!

You might:

• offer guided tours of your building;

• have someone available to answer questions;

• highlight your stained glass, artwork, architecture, or history;

• provide organ or other musical demonstrations;

• offer concerts or other musical performances;

• display historical materials or artifacts;

• demonstrate traditional crafts;

• have refreshments available;

• invite local artists or community organizations to participate;

• host vendors or exhibitors; or

• simply welcome visitors to explore your church.

There is no checklist your church has to complete.

The goal is simply to welcome people into your building and share what makes your church special.

Your Church, Your Building, Your Schedule

Each church determines:

• when it will be open during the Tour;

• which areas visitors may enter;

• which areas remain private or restricted;

• what activities it would like to offer; and

• how it would like to welcome visitors.

Please provide the Tour with your hours, accessibility information, and any other information visitors should know. If something changes, just let the Tour Director know as soon as you can.

Tour-Wide Activities

From time to time, the Tour may invite participating churches to take part in a simple Tour-wide activity. 

For example, we may invite churches to ring their bells at particular times during the Tour.

These activities are intended to help connect the participating churches and create a shared experience for visitors.

Vendors, Artists, and Exhibitors

Churches are welcome to invite vendors, artists, artisans, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, or other exhibitors to participate.

Vendors and exhibitors may sell their own products or services or accept voluntary donations.

If you are planning to have vendors or exhibitors, please let the Tour Director know so they can be included in the Tour's information where appropriate.

A Few Important Things to Know

The Tour is designed to be a free, community-based cultural and educational experience. A few basic principles help us keep it that way:

• There is no participation fee for churches and no admission fee for visitors.

• The Tour is not a fundraising event.

• Visitors should be welcomed regardless of their religious background or beliefs.

• The Tour focuses on sharing the art, architecture, history, music, craftsmanship, and stories of participating churches.

• Each church remains responsible for its own building, activities, volunteers, vendors, and property.

• The Tour does not inspect or certify participating buildings.

• Churches are welcome to answer visitors' genuine questions about their faith, history, traditions, and worship.

• The Tour Director will make reasonable efforts to treat participating churches fairly and consistently.

View the Church Participation Guidelines for additional information about responsibilities, vendors, photography, donations, safety, and the relationship between participating churches and the Tour.

Most Importantly: Have Fun With It!

There is no single “right” way to participate.

Whether your church has a full afternoon of activities or simply opens its doors and lets visitors look around, your participation helps people discover the remarkable churches and sacred spaces of Fort Wayne.

Thank you for opening your doors and being part of the Tour!

Questions?

Contact Brice on our Contact page.