Introduction
For thirty-five years , Partners for Sacred Places has been working to sustain older and historic sacred places to benefit communities of faith and the neighborhoods they serve . Through training and consultation , research and grantmaking , Partners has striven to preserve and enhance their vibrant contributions to the common good .
These places are facing a pivotal , decisive moment . In many cases , religious participation has been declining , congregations shrinking , and older sacred places have been deteriorating . There are more than 350,000 communities of faith in the US , and 70 % of their buildings were constructed prior to 1975 . As maintenance costs have risen , many congregations cannot keep pace with needed repairs .
Many have closed , some reused by other congregations , and others becoming community centers , condominiums , or places for eating and recreation . Some are demolished for new development . There are no hard numbers on the prevalence of this accelerating phenomenon , but the trend is unmistakable . And the cost to local communities is great when a sacred place disappears . That church or synagogue may have anchored the neighborhood , architecturally , spiritually , and socially . It likely served vulnerable people meeting basic human needs . It might have sheltered those struggling with addiction or housed programs for children and youth . Neighbors might have gathered there to vote or participate in community meetings . Artists might have found performance or exhibition space within its walls . Memories of life events , both joyful and painful , are attached to its space .
The threat to the sacred places which have for so long been a part of the landscape of community life has reached a crisis level , but addressing it is beyond the capacity of individual congregations , religious denominations , or any one organization — it requires a complex response involving many players . New and creative efforts to
help congregations reimagine and invest in their buildings — including the National Fund for Sacred Places — have proliferated , helping the larger public see both the significance and the potential of religious places .
In 2022 , the timing seemed right to identify and bring together the various stakeholders who would be critical to the revitalization and community value of sacred places .
A natural partnership formed with the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society at the University of Pennsylvania , led by PRRUCS Director and longtime colleague , Dr . John J . DiIulio Jr . Together we aimed to gather leaders from the different sectors that are key players in enabling sacred places not only to be preserved , but to be “ activated as hidden assets ” for their communities : philanthropy , religion , architecture / preservation , government , media , academia , and nonprofits ( including the arts and human services ). We decided to convene diverse leaders from these sectors over the course of two days in April 2024 , to move forward into
“ One of the most interesting and informative events I ’ ve ever attended !... For a meeting as brief as this was , the resources , contacts , and stimulation coming out were just amazing .” — The Rev . Dick Hamm , Disciples of Christ , retired executive
a different future of community building — where sacred places are recognized and supported as resources that strengthen civic life .
This report sums up the purpose , substance , and outcomes of the Convening , and will be shared with Convening participants as well as leaders from each of the sectors with a stake in the vitality and future of America ’ s older religious buildings .
7