Church Closure in Five Stages
The Five Stages of Church Closure
As we at Good Friday Collaborative resource clergy and communities who are concluding ministry, we have noticed five distinct Stages of ministry endings that most communities move through. While every community has their own unique story and process of ending, understanding these general Stages can help make sense of the natural work of endings. Congregations can find it challenging to move from one Stage to the next, and Good Friday Collaborative is ready to help you to transition through the Stages, without getting stuck.
As you engage this outline of the Five Stages, know that it’s possible to occupy one Stage for a prolonged time, or even for the Stages to overlap. GFC utilizes the Five Stages to assess each community we work with. What follows is not a precise outline, but a tool to identify the needs and action steps of each particular Stage. If you'd like a more in-depth assessment for your community, or for help leading your congregation through this process, we are ready and happy to work with you.
This online post is a shortened overview of our Church Closure in Five Stages Guide. The full version includes each Stage’s potential obstacles, emotional responses, suggested action steps, and more! To access the full version as a free download, subscribe to our newsletter.
Stage 1: QUIET WONDERING
length: months to years
A congregation is in the Stage of Quiet Wondering when the question is in the air, but unspoken – or only is acknowledged in hushed whispers: Is our ministry going to end?
During this Stage, leaders might think, "We don’t need to talk about closing yet, but it could happen." Resources are dwindling and members are aging. Conversations among members revolve around those who haven’t come back, wondering if they ever will. The church just “isn’t what it used to be.” Many faith communities find themselves in this Stage already, accelerated by the impact of COVID-19 on their community.
Stage 2: NAMING & NORMALIZING
length: two months to two years
A congregation has entered the Stage of Naming and Normalizing when leadership begins to name the potential of closure out loud, albeit quietly and only to a few at first. This is the Stage in which the pastor and lay leaders have conversations and consider how to talk to church members about the congregation’s likely future trajectory in clear and realistic terms. This enables discernment to begin.
During this Stage, closure is named with more frequency, and information gathering begins. When leadership intentionally names and normalizes the potential of closure, everyone becomes more free to engage with the possibilities without fear. This might look like “floating” the possibility in informal conversations, building stamina to say the words more loudly and more often. Denominational leaders should also be engaged at this point, as determined by polity.
Stage 3: INTENTIONAL DECISION-MAKING
length: several months
A congregation has entered the Stage of Intentional Decision-Making when the community shifts from informal conversations to formal and intentional conversations about concluding ministry. Instead of saying, “We should probably talk about this someday,” a community embraces the reality of “We need to be intentional about making decisions toward ending well.”
During the Stage of Intentional Decision-Making, community leaders hold one-on-one conversations, listening sessions, and business meetings. Leadership also gathers information on logistical, legal, and financial implications of concluding ministry. The particulars of this Stage vary greatly by situation, but leading this discernment with intentionality is key. It is helpful to ensure there is time for questions, prayer, and discussion before the final vote is taken. We have found it is beneficial to have planned conversations several times leading up to the official vote or decision. Some of these meetings might have specific parameters around topics or participants, such as opportunities for lament, for financial questions, or geared toward youth/children.
Stage 4: PLANNING FOR FINAL MINISTRY
length: weeks to a few months
A congregation has entered the Stage of planning as the final decision to close is being made. It begins as pastors plan ahead and continues in earnest after the decision is finalized.
During the Planning for Closure Stage, attention to three key areas is essential:
Logistics (assets, physical space, legal procedures, etc)
Programming (ending each ministry well)
Pastoral Care (attending to individual needs, as well as connecting members to new faith communities).
In planning your final ministry, consider having fellowship events (even fun events!), work days around the building, and a special celebration for your final service. It is important to include opportunities for lament and grief in final plans; rituals of ending and naming sadness and disappointment can be incredibly healing and contribute to a spiritual health. Your community will identify its own planning priorities as they define what it means for them to close well.
Stage 5: LEADING FINAL MINISTRY
length: a few weeks
A congregation has entered the Stage of Leading Final Ministry when the date for the last service is on the calendar. Plans have been made, and all that is left is to finalize the ministry. This might overlap with Stage 4, depending on how long a congregation spends in each Stage.
During this Stage, the pastor shepherds the congregation to closure, including grief work, holding final services, and the sending forth. The plans put into place in Stage 4 come to fruition, and the community can celebrate the work of the Spirit through the life of the church. Depending on congregational polity and situation, this is the time in which financial and physical assets are distributed, the building is readied for sale, and important rituals are held. This is also a good opportunity for denominational leaders as well as church members to honor the work of the pastor throughout this season; church members are not just saying goodbye to each other, but to the pastor as well!
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Final Reminders
The process of congregational closure is difficult work, full of uncertainty.
You are not alone.
Good Friday Collaborative is here to guide you through, and we offer custom plans (including individual or group coaching, resource offerings, meeting facilitation, and more) based on your individual and congregational needs.
This is holy work, and if you look for it, you might see glimpses of resurrection, even in the pain of Good Friday.
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