Hope for Declining Congregations
Dear Friends of Invested Faith,
If your worshipping community is facing hard decisions that have been long-coming but accelerated by the global pandemic, you already know that fear of loss can lead to dissension and even more painful decline. It’s tempting to give into a theology of scarcity, scrambling to piece together some solution that only prolongs the inevitable, and in the end facing a loss that is compounded by feelings of failure. If this is the reality that your community is facing, it’s important to recognize that you are not alone.
A recent study by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) predicts that over 100,000 churches will soon find themselves closing permanently--that’s 20-30% of churches in America.
Dealing with the grief of loss is an important part of this process, but this moment is also an opportunity for us to cultivate a new imagination for the future. God has worked through our churches in the past, and the work of God in the world isn’t stopping just because of church decline. How can we begin to think outside the box and join God in the work of healing the world?
The study referenced here suggests two options: “A house of worship that is unable to afford its real estate faces two alternatives: either sell the property; or repurpose its real estate into an alternate use, sometimes with multiple or mixed uses.”
Converting our properties into coffee bars or mixed-use facilities just isn’t a reality for aging congregations with diminished membership and energy. And selling the property just seems like throwing in the towel altogether. But what if selling the property can mean sending your church’s witness forward, honoring years of faithful ministry by helping build a fund that will seed the work of God in the world in perpetuity?
That’s exactly the life-giving option that Invested Faith offers communities with financial resources who can’t see a way forward. Your church’s assets can build a fund that continues to grow, producing income that funds the work of spiritual entrepreneurs creating community in new, out-of-the-box ways.
You can read about Invested Faith’s first round of Fellows here, recipients of funds to support projects that are changing communities. Their work is innovative and exciting, and your faith community can be part of making their work impactful and effective.
Sound intriguing? We’d love to talk with your community about how Invested Faith can help you navigate this phase of your life together. Reach out here.
In the meantime, thank you for your faithful work and witness. God’s healing of this world continues; it’s up to us to find new ways to join in.
FAQs for Churches
and Others Interested in
Partnering with Invested Faith
Interested in exploring options with Invested Faith?
FAQs for Churches is a new resource on our website that answers some frequently asked questions about partnering with Invested Faith.
“Last summer, after the killings of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor, I was frustrated. I was mad. I was really going through a bevy of feelings and trying to figure out exactly what my role needed to be. I wanted to do more. I personally needed to do more. My grandson was just born.”
As Safronia Perry looked at her infant grandson, she felt compelled to act.
“Protesting is good, nothing against it, but what else do you do besides protesting?”
Perry did what was most natural for her. She became an advocate.
In May of 2021, Perry established the Black Economic Growth Alliance (BEGA) to meet the needs of Black business owners in Carlisle and central Pennsylvania. Read more about Safronia and her work with BEGA here.
Invested Faith in the News
Corsicana Entrepreneur Awarded Grant Thanks to the Corsicana Daily Sun for featuring Dr. Alysia Nicole Harris, of Corsicana, Texas, who is restoring the East Side Chapel, a historically significant Black church built in 1905.
Let us know if you would like to feature Invested Faith or one of our fellows in your publication. Contact anita@investedfaith.org or visit the Press Center on our website.
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