How Should America Support its Sacred Places?
Intersection with the Public Sector
Revenue Generation
Many municipalities feeling pressure to generate new revenue have
begun to look to the nonprofit sector. Whether it is in the form of PILOTs
(payment in lieu of taxes), increased fees, or ending long-standing
exemptions from certain fees, or categorizing certain congregation activity
as non-mission related and therefore taxable (or triggering property tax),
houses of worship are being tapped by cities and municipalities across the
country. Because small congregations are very different than large
nonprofits, new fees may cause a congregation to cut staff, or make its
facilities less affordable or available to small neighborhood or community
groups.
Regulating Shared Uses
Many local municipalities have issued regulations that restrict and
constrain activities that are natural users of sacred places, such as artistic
performances, food preparation by health and hunger programs, or child
care. These regulations advance a public good but sometimes make it very
difficult for congregations to share space. Congregations and public
officials can, however, work together to navigate bureaucratic red-tape,
encourage better coordination between government agencies, and
encourage congregations and community leaders to work together in
common cause.
Advancing Tourism
Every state and major city supports tourism, recognizing that day or
overnight visitors spend money on travel, local business, and can act as
ambassadors if they enjoy their visit. Halo data show a significant number
of visits associated with a sacred place, and unlike many tourist attractions
—which are usually concentrated on a small number of locations—sacred
places exist in all neighborhoods and towns, spreading the spending impact
to businesses that may not otherwise benefit from visitor spending.
Some sacred places are tourist attractions in their own right because of
their history or architecture, because of well-loved events/festivals they
host, and music or performance offerings they provide. Overnight visitors
for life events such as weddings, baptisms, and bar/bat mitzvahs for our
sample of 90 congregations account for over $10 million spent in the local
area which equates to over $113,000 per congregation per year. Tourism or
visitor officials can assist in providing support for congregations hosting
major events, providing connections to hotels and other businesses.
Historic and arts related tours or events can be included in local event
calendars, and congregations can be incorporated into promotional
campaigns, site interpretation, and historic preservation.
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