is available to nonmembers ? Though some groups who previously used space in the building have folded because of COVID , others exist who now need reasonably priced space more than ever .
Congregations often do not have marketing expertise or enough volunteers to seek out new space users . However , partnerships with social services , affordable housing advocates , health care agencies , childcare providers , and arts organizations all still present opportunities . Instead of fighting the impact of remote work , congregations might embrace it by setting up co-working spaces or small-business incubation centers in unused office space or Sunday School classrooms . “ Development ” of a property need not mean tearing down old buildings and constructing new ones . It can mean reimagining and repurposing the buildings , including the possibility of maintaining space for an existing congregation to continue to worship and serve .
T o prepare for such reimagining and connecting with new community partners , however , congregations must begin by taking small steps to make the spaces welcoming and inviting to potential partners and tenants . East Longmeadow engaged in a major decluttering of the entire building , a necessary task for most congregations , and they painted their fellowship hall . After sprucing up the building , their excitement grew about what their space could offer to new users . They kept painting ! By the time they invited community leaders into the space for a tour and an asset-mapping activity , not only did the rooms look fresh , but the outlook of the congregation had expanded . After they engaged with community leaders — one of whom said , “ This space is too important to our town to lose ” — they understood that both they and their property had a purpose . They found a renewed sense of mission and discovered community partners eager to work with them . They now hope to host an anchor tenant , which will help their financial needs , serve the community , and allow them to continue to worship and work in their beloved meetinghouse .
While the challenges to congregations and their properties are significant , opportunities also abound for congregations to reimagine their properties and make new connections in their neighborhoods , towns , and cities to preserve them for active community use as well as worship , education , fellowship , and service for the congregation . “ Transition ” need not be a synonym for an ending but a pathway to new beginnings .
Performance by the Olga Dunn Dance Company at St . James Place . Christina Lane Photography
Broad Street Ministry incorporates the beauty of its church building and artwork into the radical hospitality of its mission . Kris Jaeger
Interior of First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow , which is seeking a community partner that would allow the congregation to continue worshiping there . Rochelle Stackhouse
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