PRESIDENT’ S NOTE
Expanding our Research
Here at Partners, we often work with congregations and sacred places“ in transition”— when the use, management, and even ownership of an old church or synagogue is changing. The Rev. Katie Day’ s article in this issue is a fascinating case study of this phenomenon. Working with another scholar, Dr. Day revisited dozens of sacred places along a historic avenue in Philadelphia, which had been the focus of her book, Faith on the Avenue, in 2014, noting how many have moved, closed, or disappeared over the years. Of course, many have persevered and some have thrived, but many have“ transitioned” away.
It is very fitting that we are including this article in our new issue of Sacred Places, because Dr. Day is also serving as Partners’ first research coordinator. We have asked her to lead our efforts to continue and expand a respected and influential record of research over the years, much of it undertaken in partnership with major universities such as the University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Carolina.
Partners is primarily a service organization, but we also serve as America’ s primary advocate for the civic value and preservation of our older sacred places as centers of congregational life and community service. And to advocate for our churches, synagogues, and other places of worship, we must understand how they contribute to our civic life and local economies, which led us to our first major project: Sacred Places at Risk. This 1998 study was the first in the United States to look at how congregations share their space and serve people in need, and it showed that over 80 percent of the people served in the average sacred place are not members of that congregation.
Our study on the Economic Halo Effect of sacred places followed in 2016, expanding our look at how congregations and their buildings contribute to the health and economy of their local communities. We found that the average urban sacred place contributed more than $ 1.7 million in value to its community each year. Later we learned that the average rural United Methodist church in North Carolina made an annual contribution valued at over $ 735,000 annually. Given inflation, these numbers are even higher now!
Our research has had a major impact on the national conversation around the value and vulnerability of sacred places. We are also able to help individual congregations measure and communicate their own Halo Effect, which can be a powerful tool for their fundraising efforts.
A burgeoning number of scholars and researchers nationwide are interested in learning about the transitioning and closing of sacred places, and Partners is comparing notes with them to help ensure that key questions are asked and answered. Among the questions we want to ask: What has been the longer-term impact of the National Fund on participating congregations; and how are other congregations with major capital needs finding resources to support the care and full use of their buildings?
As we learn more in the coming months and years, we are committed to sharing our findings with congregations and communities so that our sacred places can be cared for and sustained for generations to come.
A. ROBERT JAEGER
STAFF
A. Robert Jaeger, President
Kevin Block, Director of Special Initiatives Brittany Carter, Sr. Director of Finance and
Operations Daniel Cruz, Technical Assistance Coordinator,
National Fund for Sacred Places Dana Dabek, Director of Community Engagement Katie Day, Research Coordinator Karen DiLossi, Sr. Director of Programs Bridget Fidler, Sr. Director of Consulting Tom Fike, Director of Capital Campaign Services Kathryn Ford, Communications Coordinator Rachel Galton, Intervention Fund Director, National
Fund for Sacred Places Gianfranco Grande, Executive Vice President Emilie Haertsch, Senior Communications Manager Lily Hamilton, Associate Director, National Fund for Sacred Places Rachel Hildebrandt, Sr. Director, National Fund for Sacred Places Victoria Hyman, Financial Assistant Madison Hynson, Development Associate Betsy Ivey, Director, Philadelphia Fund for
Black Sacred Places Simon Kaufman, Sr. Director of Advancement Caroline Lauber, Consulting Associate Rosie Loughran, Program Associate, National Fund for Sacred Places Jane Nasta, Technical Assistance Associate, Jasmine Pressley, People Operation Manager Jillian Riseman, Program Associate, National Fund for Sacred Places Owen Robbins, Special Project and Design Associate Emily Sajdak, Director of Rural Initiatives Tamara Littlejohn Small, Administrative Manager Geraldine Wang, Senior Fellow, Strategic
Advancement Emilio Weber, Project Associate
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. G. Edward Hughes, Ph. D Chair
Ms. Barbara Abrajano The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows Mr. Mark Constantine, Ph. D Ms. Jennifer Correia, Secretary Mr. Paul Edmondson, Esq. Ms. Elise Edwards, Ph. D Mr. Marco Federico, Treasurer Ms. Heather Gilker Ms. Lynn Hunt Gray, Esq., Vice Chair Mr. Dave Kirwan Ms. Margaret Sears Lindley Ms. Rosa Lowinger The Most Rev. Denis J. Madden Mr. Mark McDonald Mr. Mendes Napoli Mr. David Riccio Mr. Taylor Steele Mr. Edward Torrez, AIA
1700 Sansom Street, 10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 partners @ sacredplaces. org www. sacredplaces. org 215.567.3234
SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2026 5