SACRED PLACES
from the President
A . ROBERT JAEGER
Chris Kendig Photography
IT ’ S BECOMING INCREASINGLY APPARENT to civic leaders across America that many of our congregations , especially in older urban and rural communities , have declined in size over the last several decades . Some , in time , will not be sustainable and their buildings — which provide a home for so much of the ministry and social infrastructure our communities depend upon — will be at risk . Some congregations will be compelled to close or merge and sell their buildings , dislocating the childcare centers , soup kitchens and homeless programs they have hosted for years . Sacred places with new owners may be reused in a way that continues to provide public benefit or community access . Others , however , will be gutted or demolished .
These changes represent a slowly unfolding community crisis , especially when some cities and neighborhoods may be losing a critical mass of community-serving sacred places .
This crisis has prompted and informed Partners ’ response , which has taken many forms , including — most recently — the publication of an important new guide : Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places : Community-Minded Approaches for Congregations and Judicatories . This practical resource offers guidance on the full range of options available to congregations that are ready to rethink the use and management of their building assets , including more intensive sharing of space ; shared ownership with other congregations ; staying in place under new ownership ; or sale of the property .
When religious buildings must be sold , our guide recommends a civic-minded process that brings congregations and communities together , encouraging new uses that maintain the public value of these sacred places , as well as steps to protect and preserve their character and cultural value .
The Guide comes out at a time when the media is publishing a flurry of articles and opinion pieces on closed / closing / vacant churches , and when policy journals are looking more closely at the vulnerability of sacred places . For example , in an article in Governing magazine by Rick Reinhard entitled “ Churches are Closing . It ’ s a Challenge for Local Governments ,” the author makes the case that the public sector has an important role to play : “ It will fall to cities and counties to lead and guide the process of finding new and better uses for buildings that have long anchored communities and neighborhoods .”
Dr . David Kresta , who teaches courses on community economic development at Portland State University , led a recent convening that asked clergy to talk about reimagining religious spaces . And the Faith + Finance Assets in Transition Peer Group has been formed to convene nonprofit organizations that share a concern for sacred places transitioning in use and / or
ownership . One of those organizations is Sympara , which has mapped the purpose and relationship of many nonprofits with shared interests , including Partners , suggesting that we occupy a key junction point in the ecosystem of organizations concerned about transitioning sacred places . In this ecosystem , Partners is considered to be all of the following :
Investor — via the National Fund for Sacred Places and our other grantmaking programs , as well as our capital campaign services which helps congregations maximize community support for repair and restoration projects .
Outfitter and Guide — via our New Dollars / New Partners training , Community Engagement consulting , publications and other resources .
Cultivator of the Commons — via our placemaking and asset-mapping work .
Activator of Space — via our space-matching work and our Arts in Sacred Places program , among other initiatives .
It ’ s my belief that Partners ’ work to guide and support transitioning sacred places may be one of the most important developments in our history , and will help to mainstream Partners ’ resources — and our goals and values — in new and important ways .
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