We discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic that congregations can make major adjustments to do ministry without a building. We also found out that returning to the sanctuary became a priority once the novelty of worshipping online wore off.
We cannot deny that church buildings are sacred spaces. We officiate weddings and perform baptisms in our sanctuaries. We comfort grieving families through shared meals after funerals in our fellowship spaces. We gather for prayer and teach classes that sustain the current generation’s hope and cultivate faith in the next.
In rural communities and urban centers, religious buildings are often well-known landmarks. The steeples and spires serve as stable reference points even as the neighboring landscape changes.
But one of the challenges we face today is that many religious buildings are falling into disrepair. As the facilities age and maintenance costs increase, congregations must discern how to move forward: relocate or repurpose?
Relocating can be challenging, given the cost of land and construction. But what does it look like to repurpose our buildings? Some congregations have discovered that their mission is energized when they use the building more instead of less. What if the church doors stayed open six or seven days a week to offer resources and renewal to the community through programs and partnerships? Is it possible to use church-owned property to address pressing needs in the local area?
We love our old buildings. But sometimes we are overcome with nostalgia, and we fail to see how deferred maintenance erodes the church’s future vision. How might your congregation be more intentional about imagining a new purpose within its existing property?
