Partners for Sacred Places 2021 Annual Report 2021 | Page 12

Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places

As the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters embarked on a long-term plan for the stewardship of their historic campus in Sinsinawa , WI , Partners helped them find a region-wide network of support and fresh ideas for ways to repurpose their mid-century Rotunda building ( lower right of photo ). Photo : Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters
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Many congregations are finding it difficult to steward and care for their older properties while still attending to mission and ministry . These challenges are compelling a growing number of faith communities to close or move , which can have a negative impact on the surrounding area . To help religious leaders find ways to discern and sustain the civic value of their buildings , Partners produced a new guide in 2021 — Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places : Community-Minded Approaches for Congregations and Judicatories .
This guide provides a number of options for changing or transforming the relationship between a congregation and its building and property . These include :
Remaining in place with new uses and / or sale of nonessential assets . This set of possibilities allows a congregation to retain a sustainable presence by sharing space and maximizing the potential of the property to support a range of uses and organizational partners .
Retaining a presence while changing ownership . A number of creative solutions such as selling to a new owner who allows the congregation to remain , or working with the congregation ’ s judicatory to retain a building until a new ministry or programmatic purpose emerges , can retain the presence of a faith community even when ownership must change .
Using financial and development incentives to stay . There are a number of development tools that can provide resources and new
circumstances that can permit congregations to remain in place and provide for the care of their buildings .
Shepherding / encouraging new uses . This category focuses on the ultimate transition , where the congregation yields its ownership of the property to make way for new owners and new uses , and to do so in a way which creates a legacy consistent with its mission and vision .
In 2022 Partners will be providing additional resources , tools , and guidance to support transitioning faith communities .
A digital version of the guide is available at no cost at sacredplaces . org .