Church Buildings: Asset or Albatross
Your building can be an amazing gift to the community, a resource for ministry, and a tool for mission—if it’s the right building, in the right place, and able to be cared for. Without those things, the building can become an albatross, weighing down the ministry and sucking resources away from mission.
Falling into Financial Strength
Just as fall will eventually give way to winter, and winter will give way to spring. Similarly, a congregation’s financial health will change over time. Intentionally focusing on the skills that lead a congregation toward financial strength will help a church navigate every season of its life.
When the People are Strong
“Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people!” In all my years of knowing that rhyme, I’ve only ever considered it to mean the numbers inside. However, I think it means something much more important. It’s a reminder that the people are the church. People who are free to serve according to their gifts are people empowered to do the work of ministry, whatever form it takes.
Is your Congregation Spiritually and Emotionally Strong?
Options for the future require robust spirituality and the ability to address conflict, change, and uncertainty. Discerning the future is easier when a faith community has a joyful sense of God at work, healthy approaches to conflict resolution, and a willingness to adapt and experiment.
Resurrection Hope: Church Closure and a Faithful Future
Pastor Lorrin Radzik preaches resurrection — even after closing two churches. For courageous leaders, death is not the end of our story.
So You Think Your Church Might Close?
Good Friday Collaborative’s Diane Kenaston offers 10 practical actions any leader can take if you think your church might close.
A Prayer for Remembering Saint Congregations
This All Saints Day prayer from the Good Friday Collaborative recognizes "saint congregations," legacy churches that have closed, merged, or concluded visible ministry.
Denominational Resources for Closing and Merging Churches
Denominational resources for church closure and merger include congregationalist and centralized polities. Read more from Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Reformed, Anglican, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Church of Christ, Catholic, Quaker, and uniting churches.
Church Closure in Five Stages
As we at Good Friday Collaborative resource clergy and churches who are concluding ministry, we have noticed five distinct Stages of ministry endings that most communities move through. While every church has their own unique story and process of ending, these general Stages can help make sense of the natural work of endings.
Church Closure & Merger Books
Thinking about church closure or merger? The Good Friday Collaborative has assembled a book list for our newsletter subscribers. Download the annotated resource list as a first step for support in the sacred work of congregational endings.
