A Message from Our Leadership
Looking back at the last year from the perspective of 2020 , we are struck by something said by The Rev . James Moody , pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church , the first African American church established in the city of Chicago :
By restoring the congregation ’ s connection to the community , Quinn can help those in the community in desperate need of resources and direction . The restoration of the facility has served as a vehicle for accomplishing [ these ] objectives . Quinn has become the “ home ” for channeling resources back into the community by building youth sports fields and sponsoring activities for youth , [ among many other outreach programs ].
As we continue to adjust to the pandemic and join together in the effort to fight systemic racism , Quinn Chapel exemplifies the sustained value that sacred places bring to our communities . When sacred places were forced to close temporarily , communities around the country lost childcare facilities , soup kitchens , concert halls , and meeting sites . At the same time , we saw the resiliency and continued drive of congregations to serve their communities , using their creativity to set up drivethrough food pantries , using their parking lots as testing centers , and providing support to those in need , even when they could not use their buildings for worship .
This community value was true in 2019 as well . We just see it more clearly now .
We are so grateful to be able to work with remarkable congregations housed in historic sacred places that are striving to build stronger , more vibrant communities . And we are grateful , too , that Partners received several multi-year grants and substantial gifts in 2019 which have allowed us to continue to support sacred places without interruption last year and this year .
The National Fund for Sacred Places was renewed with $ 10 million in additional capital grants over the next several years , and our work with Nordic churches in the upper Midwest was extended as well . Last year saw the beginning of new work supporting sacred places as expressions of culture and folk arts in Appalachia , an exciting project to measure the Economic Halo Effect of rural Methodist churches in North Carolina , and the beginning of a host of new consulting projects from coast to coast .
Over the past year , Partners has demonstrated creative solutions and new approaches to the most difficult and intractable problems faced by congregations with historic buildings and the communities they serve . We are proud that the creative heart of Partners was strong in 2019 , moving us to do new work , but also readying us for the enormous challenges we are facing now . This continuity and innovation would not have been possible without the support of our donors and partners . We thank you most wholeheartedly , and we want you to know that your investment in Partners was well placed .
The Rev . Katherine Glaze Lyle Board Chair
Bob Jaeger President