The Convening
On April 4 and 5 , 2024 , almost 100 national leaders from philanthropy , religious institutions , academia , architecture and historic preservation , nonprofits , government , and media gathered in Philadelphia to discuss the issues faced and potential offered by older houses of worship in the United States . The convening began with two site visits to churches in West Philadelphia , Calvary United Methodist Church and New River Presbyterian Church , both of which have vibrant , committed congregations in historic buildings . Each told their stories of struggle , discernment , and hope , grounding the convening ’ s conversations in real , tangible people and places .
That evening , attendees celebrated Partners ’ 35th anniversary at a dinner where three awards were given . The Rev . Dr . Christopher Coble accepted an award on behalf of Lilly Endowment Inc . for its pioneering role in this arena . An award was presented in absentia to The Rev . Dr . Thomas F . Pike , who served as the first Chair of Partners ’ Board and has been a long-time advocate for preservation of sacred places . The Rt . Rev . Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows , Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis , received an award and then presented on “ In the Nick of Time : Collaborating for the future of sacred places and their communities .” Her perspective was realistic about the challenges faced by faith communities in their aging buildings , but also hopeful about the possibilities for the future .
The next morning began with a provocative plenary session that included Dr . Rebecca Padot from the University of Pennsylvania in conversation with John Bridgeland , Executive Chairman of the Office of American Possibilities . Having served two presidents , and wearing multiple organizational hats as an innovator , Bridgeland took on the crisis of sacred places that bring so much civic value to public life . He advocated that preserving and activating them for an enhanced presence in our communities is deserving of a “ moonshot ” effort .
Following up on his challenge , sociologist Nancy Ammerman presented data about the “ Shifting Landscapes of American Religious Communities .” While the declining numbers of religious participation are a well-known trend , Ammerman also brought evidence of countervailing narratives of resilience , entrepreneurism , and service in faith communities , especially through the use of their buildings .
E . J . Dionne Jr ., columnist for the Washington Post and Fellow at the Brookings Institution , built on and added to these two voices in his presentation , “ The Power of Sacred Places to Serve Civic Purposes .” He led the audience in a thought experiment of imagining a society without sacred places . Historically and currently , he explained , sacred places are woven into the social fabric , adding vitality to civic life from the individual to the national levels , by cultivating social connections and promoting democratic participation .
“ I came away … with fresh ways to think about buildings , place , and the potential that is there .”
— Julie Polter , Sojourners
This is not a religious problem but a social one , he stressed . “ You don ’ t have to believe in God to believe in sacred places …” Dionne concluded .
Attendees then heard from a panel of experts that spanned the sectors represented in the room , explored a case study of an Episcopal church in Reading , PA , and had the opportunity to discuss the issues at hand in two small roundtable sessions . Dr . Elizabeth Lynn ( Lake Institute ) took the various threads of those discussions and found common themes that could be woven together from the diverse sectors in tackling this complex issue , most importantly innovation and storytelling .
The expertise and leadership in the room were powerful , many noting the unprecedented coming together of so many sectors in common cause . Many of these leaders had never met and some had never seriously considered the role of sacred places in communities . But in this space , they articulated new ways to collaborate and champion the cause moving forward .
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