Next Steps
Communicating the Challenges and Possibilities of Sacred Places
A recurring theme in roundtables and conversations during the Convening and afterwards has been the need for more stories . Novelist Richard Powers said , “ The best arguments in the world won ’ t change a single person ’ s point of view . The only thing that can do that is a good story .” We saw the transformational power of storytelling in site visits to New River Presbyterian Church and Calvary UMC at the beginning of the Convening and in the video and panel from Christ Church in Reading , PA . These stories brought a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by historic sacred places and their communities , as well as the joys of creating new partnerships and programs . Stories help us to see what is possible and contribute to a sense of hope . Further , enhanced understanding of what congregations face with their buildings and do in their communities will help each potential stakeholder to know more precisely what their role is , whether as funders , leaders of religious institutions , government agencies , nonprofits , preservationists , or researchers .
These goals will be furthered if Partners teams up with media representatives from other related organizations , and from religious and secular media . This communications team could coordinate special projects to reach wider audiences about the civic value of sacred places , such as a video to appear on PBS and series in national publications .
13