Gone for Good?: Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition

by Mark Elsdon (Editor), Willie James Jennings (Foreword)

Is your church facing the difficult decision to sell property?    Consider using church buildings and land to further the gospel mission. Mark Elsdon, author of We Aren’t Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry, revisits questions of church resources with a team of pastors, scholars, developers, urban planners, and more. This collection of essays sheds light on how church communities can transform their properties to serve their neighborhoods.    Essays explore spiritual, sociological, and practical aspects of church property transition,

     • assessing the impacts of churches on their neighborhoods—and the gaps they will leave behind       • developing church property into affordable housing       • transforming ministry in rural churches       • partnering with Indigenous peoples to return land       • fostering cooperation between congregations, developers, and city planners       • navigating zoning laws       • working with foundations and funders   Thousands of church properties worth billions of dollars are being sold or repurposed each year. Nothing can stop the currents of change. But congregations and cities can take steps now to ensure a legacy directed toward communal good rather than private interests. Gone for Good? will be an invaluable guide in navigating these radical shifts in church life and ministry.

 Jennie Birkholz, David Bowers, Philip Burns, Mark D. Constantine, Joseph Daniels Jr., Patrick Duggan, Mark Elsdon, Ashley Goff, Jim Bear Jacobs, A. Robert Jaeger, Willie James Jennings, Tyler Krupp-Qureshi, Eileen Lindner, Elizabeth Lynn, Nadia Mian, Kurt Paulsen, Jill Shook, Coté Soerens, Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Keith Starkenburg, Andre Johnny White 

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2024

About the author

Mark Elsdon lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of, We Aren't Broke, about the use of faith-based property and investments for social enterprise and impact investing. Mark’s new book, Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition comes out in January 2024 and is available for pre-order.

Mark is cofounder of RootedGood, which supports catalytic and innovative church leaders working on property development, money and mission alignment, and social enterprise; executive director at Pres House and Pres House Apartments on the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus; principal at Threshold Sacred Development; and past president of the board of directors for Working Capital for Community Needs, an impact investing fund that provides microfinance funding to the working poor in Latin America.

Mark has a BA in Psychology from the University of California - Berkeley, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark is an avid cyclist and considers it a good year when he rides more miles on his bike than he drives in his car.

Reviews

[Ryan Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful book for imagining what’s next in the future of church property. Some of the essays were a bit samesy, would have been better to have fewer authors and give them more space to really lay out the nuts and bolts of navigating zoning, financing, planning, consulting, funding, etc. I’d like to see a Canadian version of this book.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A THOUGHT-PROVOKING COLLECTION OF ESSAYS ON CHURCH CLOSINGS, & OPPORTUNITIES

Editor Mark Elsdon wrote in the Introduction to this 2024 book, “The question that keeps me up at night and shapes this book is this: Twenty years from now, when we look around our neighborhoods and realize that a third or more of our church properties are no longer churches, what will we have lost? Or gained? What will impact be on the social fabric of our communities? And what will each of us have done to encourage good… when churches are gone?” (Pg. 1) He continues, “I believe this is an important book raising the profile of one of the defining current issues of American Christianity… First, this book is focused on Christian church property. Houses of worship in other faith traditions are also going through significant transitions… Second, despite intentional efforts to engage in a diversity of contributors across a number of spectrums, there are churches and communities of people missing from this volume. One such community not explored in depth here is immigrant churches…. It is my sincere hope that this book is just one voice in a larger conversation that we will have in denominations, city planning departments, seminaries, universities, and the public sphere.” (Pg. 15-16)

He outlines, “Researchers are making projections about the future of religious affiliation in the United States… A 2022 model by the Pew Research Center predicts that if recent trends continue, Christians will make up less than half of the US population by 2070. That number might be as low as one-third of the population, depending on how the trends evolve… as of 2019, we have entered an era where more churches are closed each year than are opened… The bottom line is that fewer and fewer people identify as Christians and attend traditional church activities in church buildings. Therefore, the simple reality is that there are far more church buildings today than will be needed in the future. Some of these buildings and properties will have to become something else. Or they will end up empty and unused… We are long past the days of ‘revitalizing’ every church in order to keep all churches open and operating buildings that are too large or needing renovation… Churches own property in prime locations in every corner of the country… What will replace churches on those properties? Without thoughtful intervention, it is likely that many will end up as vacant land or crumbling buildings… when the wave has receded, will church property have further contributed to injustice and the widening gap between rich and poor? Or will we have put our creativity and energy into new uses that leave communities more connected, more just, and with new programs and support that bring light and life into people’s lives.” (Pg. 5-7)

Eileen Lindner notes, “The COVID pandemic not only increased frequency of church closings and sales but also called into question the necessity for such property holdings in the minds of many congregations. Having worshiped virtually for most of two years, some congregations are reassessing the need for all property they maintain and whether some better relationship of property to mission calling might be achieved by converting, selling, or sharing their real estate.” (Pg. 30-31)

Rochelle Stackhouse states, “The United States is in the midst of a tsunami of church closings, with thousands of churches ceasing operations or leaving their buildings every year… many cities and towns rely on faith communities to share their buildings to accommodate feeding programs, emergency housing, meeting space for civic groups, office and program space for nonprofit organizations, day-care and after-school services, senior citizen programs, recreation programs, arts programs, services for new immigrants, disaster relief, and a plethora of other activities for free or at below-market rates.” (Pg. 36) Later, she adds, “Space sharing is not a magic solution to keep a barely viable congregation alive; however, space sharing on a large enough scale can help an otherwise vital congregation to focus its finances and volunteer time on ministry and mission rather than on building maintenance.” (Pg. 42)

Patrick Duggan observes, “In making the case of keeping church property missional, this is where we must begin: 1. The mission of the church as interpreted and animated by most American Christians today is at best ineffective at holding or increasing the number of adherents, and at worst is perceived a hypocritical, divisive, and a contributor to societal evils like sexism, white supremacy, pedophilia, racism, misogyny, and homophobia… 2. There is no unifying vision of American Christianity that holds the imagination of all followers of Christ today. 3. Reflecting and contributing to the decline in American Christianity… more church properties are in transition because (a) more churches are closing, (b) the churches are closing at a faster rate, and (c) the number of persons attending in-person weekly worship has decreased. The language of church architecture may still speak to us, but its lofty message rings inauthentic in the imagination of most Americans.” (Pg. 61-62) He adds, "Church-owned property must be dedicated toward the advancement of the church’s stated mission even when the use is not religious.” (Pg. 67)

Jim Bear Jacobs says, “I long for a day when land-back justice would not be reserved for the last breath of dying churches. Don’t get me wrong. I celebrate anytime land is returned to Indigenous people. But returning land that is used up and buildings that might be crumbling is not really the gesture that works to undo systems of historic oppression. It does not move the needle of justice as much as we might think it does. It is my hope that everyone that is reading this and associated with a church would consider carefully returning land to Indigenous people long before the writing of their own demise is on the wall… I would suggest that returning land to its rightful inhabitants, as a last act of life, is not emptying. It is not kenosis. Instead, I want churches to consider true vulnerability, true kenosis, true emptying of power.” (Pg. 100)

Ashley Goff says of Arlington Presbyterian Church (APC), “In 1999… its governing body voted to engage in… a three-year program to help congregations name ways to connect with their communities and create a new congregational vision… In 2010, APC’s session discerned a proposal to create affordable housing… A three-part vision emerged: nurture disciples of Jesus Christ, be a place of crossroads and connections, and use the property to provide affordable housing for the South Arlington community… Jesus showed APC something new and amazing out of what was right in front of them---neighbors struggling to live and work in Arlington County.” (Pg. 136-138)

David Bowers points out, “Many houses of worship exist in a sea of need where members of the congregation or the larger community, or both, are living in distress, facing toxic choices while wrestling with issues including access to affordable housing, child care, health care, and healthy food. These are real people with real needs. Some congregations in urban settings are dealing with issues of market-induced displacement of low- and moderate-income residents from areas where housing process have escalated… Demographic shifts---ethnic and economic---make for changing needs around a house of worship. In some cases, a reverse dynamic occurs where suburban houses of worship are seeing demographic shifts with more low-income residents moving to suburban areas. The needs of residents are often new for an area that may have been used to certain demographics for generations.” (Pg. 153) He adds, “Be okay with government assistance. Government resources are our best resource. And look for ways in which your project may be in line with local government priorities.” (Pg. 156) He continues, “If religious institutions sell the land they have stewarded for generations, they should be mindful that they will no longer be able to utilize it for community impact.” (Pg. 161)

Jennie Birkholz notes, “In many small and rural towns today, we find relics of this piece of American history. These churches and generational congregations had remained while businesses, hospitals, and people have come and gone. While the structures may still stand, these once-vital, thriving centers of communities now largely stand empty, and lack a purpose. However, the unique attributes that once made these churches vital parts of the community remain today.” (Pg. 170-171) She adds, “Research has revealed that persons participating in spiritual communities live healthier, longer lives, experience less behavioral health challenges and lower incidences of death by suicide. Spirituality creates a connection with a higher power and with those around us that then influences behaviors and mind-set. Faith communities offer structure and opportunities to learn and practice spirituality both individually and in community.” (Pg. 175)

She suggests, “Church property can be transformed into mini-farming communities with vegetable gardens, orchards, and small farm animals such as chickens. Fresh food can fill the pantry of those in need and provide a critical nutritional need in the community. The church can then take advantage of its central location by hosting regular farmers’ markets where the remaining food can be sold to raise funds for the church. Creating a community garden or orchards and holding farmers’ markets also provide community social opportunities through volunteerism.” (Pg. 178) She continues, “Some health-care systems have turned to churches in rural communities to provide the follow-up support needed to successfully keep residents safe in their homes. Health-care systems have established faith-based programs and partnerships in which they train church members to visit patients and provide a ministry of presence. The church member is thus able to help the patient with prescriptions, housing, or food if needed… Health-care systems have found significant savings with these programs and continue to expand and support them across the country.” (Pg. 183)

Mark D. Constantine and Elizabeth Lynn report, “on the basis of our interviews, it appears that, as increasing numbers of congregations confront questions of closing their doors and disposing of or repurposing their properties, they are not talking with local philanthropic leaders about the potential impact of these transactions on the common good---and philanthropic leaders are not talking with each other about it either.” (Pg. 263)

Mark Elsdon concludes, “As we’ve sampled through … this book---letting go of property can be freeing, relinquishing control can be life given to others, giving land back can be deeply healing, and redeveloping can be restorative. Repurposing church property is a chance to do something new. It allows us to think differently, see more vividly, listen more deeply, and love more fully. It is an opportunity to take the good news outside the Sunday worship service. The transition of church property is one of the largest issues facing the church today. It is also one of our greatest opportunities. Yes, churches, buildings, and property will be gone. Of this there is no doubt. But when we all contribute ingredients, in partnership together, I am incredibly hopeful that new and good things will emerge. They will be gone for GOOD.” (Pg. 276)

This book will be of great interest to persons concerned about the future of the modern Christian church.

[Zoe Matties · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful book for any church thinking through a property transition. I also think there are parts of it that are helpful to churches going through a big transition of any kind. By the end, the chapters got a bit repetitive, but I think the questions asked are important ones for the church as a whole to consider as we are fully into an era of church decline.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a wide variety of authors contributing their thoughts on this topic, but overall, I found it disappointing. The best essay in the book, I thought, was from the real estate developers. They had good, practical advice on zoning, realistic time periods needed, and other important considerations. The last essay, detailing a study on what philanthropy professionals might think on the subject of re-purposing church buildings, was fascinating. Answer: they haven't thought much about the subject at all. While church leaders may think lots about this topic, others are not.

Several authors of essays in this book came across as preachy, chiding church members to simply turn their properties over to disadvantaged groups who are thought to live in the vicinity of their church building. I think this presumes that most church members are affluent, white people attending churches in predominately poor neighborhoods. Frankly, this has not been my experience or observations. The question of what you might do with an unused church in an affluent area is not addressed in this book, but it should have been.

This book had lots of potential, but few new or interesting ideas.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2020, I was living in Philadelphia for a few months just down the road from St. Edwards church, an abandoned cathedral that, in 1995 housed the homeless and is where Shane Claiborne and his Simple Way organization began. In 2020, St. Ed’s was still abandoned but the city had locked up the building. The Simply Way held a protest there, then we entered the building with the intentions of setting up to use as a homeless shelter. The city shut it down later that day.

Abandoned church properties like St. Ed’s are more common than you might think. As churches decline and buildings age, there are an increasing number of church properties with no clear future. What are we to do? In Gone for Good? (a clever title holding multiple meanings), Mark Elsdon gathers together a group of experienced and knowledgeable Christian leaders to offer their perspectives on the coming (and now here) wave of church property transition.

This is a fascinating book, even though its appeal is probably limited to church leaders. I would consider a must-read for church planters, trustees, or pastors/leaders dealing with an impending church move or closure. The chapters range from the philosophical to the practical. They acknowledge that many property transitions are unwanted and come as a result of church stagnation and decline, yet they retain a hopefulness and optimism for the future.

Part one of Gone for Good covers some of the practical elements of church closures, offering communities a reminder of the services the church provided, the influence it had on the community, and how to pivot to retain those positive influences and repurpose the building for community use. It discusses the good that church buildings provide and even suggests that some building closures could result in churches relocating to more useful places within their community.

Part two handles the spiritual element of church property transition. Jim Bear Jacobs writes a powerful essay on how churches transitioning away from their property can use it as an opportunity to return stolen land. Ashley Goff speaks prophetically about how God’s call is bigger than a building and that the work of ministry was always meant to be outside church walls. Jennie Birkholz writes about the value of rural churches. Gone for Good doesn’t just demand we put a happy face on these losses, but rather encourages us to see where we can reclaim beauty from ashes. I also appreciate the theme that we can’t just go back to “normal,” but should rather pivot to something new that can lead to better flourishing.

Part three gets into the technical details. Nadia Mian writes about working with zoning commissions to build bonds between the church and civil government. There’s a chapter on how to build a real estate advisory team. Kurt Paulsen writes about proactive city planning for church property transitions.

Altogether, in Gone for Good, you get the head (legal/logistic elements), heart (spiritual elements), and hands (practical ministry elements) of navigating church property transition. Whether you’re a church plant considering buying a building or an aging church facing closure, there is practical and spiritual wisdom for you here.

[Wisconsin Alumni]

Mark Elsdon MBA’17
Editor

From the editor:
As tens of thousands, and billions of dollars, of church-owned property is sold or repurposed throughout the United States in the next decade, will those properties be gone for good?

Edited by Mark Elsdon with a foreword by Willie James Jennings, Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition, draws upon the experience and expertise of a diverse and interdisciplinary group of contributors from across the United States. These contributors highlight what we are losing as church property usage changes at an unprecedented speed and scale, and help us imagine the innovative possibilities that can emerge.

They describe the value churches have as centers of community life within a neighborhood and tell stories not only of churches that have built affordable housing, but also reveal how church and civic leaders can work together so that properties become a new kind of social good, explore how public policy can encourage more good to emerge on church land, ask questions about how we should treat church land that was stolen from Indigenous peoples, consider the role philanthropy can play in these transitions, and more.

This book encourages church and civic leaders to engage in thoughtful, intentional church property transition, so this once-in-a-lifetime shift leaves us not gone for forever, but gone for good.

[Tyler Sit · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapter on the Halo Effect blew my mind! This book is a triumph--it thoughtfully explores how churches can continue a legacy of serving the community even when they're not able to own/maintain a building anymore. These are hard conversations for pastors (like me), and this book compassionately accompanies us in talking about real community impacts. I am also thrilled that they included the perspective of Jim Bear Jacobs, because Native American perspectives on church conversations are noticeably lacking in the national discourse around (non-Native) church real estate. I'm going to buy a copy for all of the Trustees in my denominational area :)

[Melinda Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for pastors, leadership teams and judicatories--I HIGHLY recommend judicatory level types read this before recommending it to churches because we need to build teams of support. And we need to read this book and consider the questions it asks well in advance (years) before the time comes to close or sell a building. In my experience, churches aren't ready to have these conversations until it's too late. Sometimes pastors are, but I think it should be done in conversation with others because it's not a solo endeavor.

The final chapter has good summary points and questions to ask.

[Debbie Koester · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Gone for Good" edited by Mark Elsdon. It is a series of articles about churches who decided to do something with their properties once they realized doing things the same way they always have wasn't working. It was very interesting. My only disappointment was I thought it would have a variety of ideas -- most of it dealt with churches redeveloping their property for housing.

[Erica Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impressive collection from a wide range of authors, this book sparks important conversations for the Church as it faces the changing landscape in religious life. In a time when many are caught up in cynicism and despair, this book offers voices of hope for what is possible, for what we can do to create more good in the world.

[Mitzi Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I attended a conference in February of 2024, where I met the editor of this book. It was for sale, so I bought it. I started reading it immediately but then it sat on my nightstand for 22 months. Tonight I finished it!

While my own church is not involved in selling or redeveloping property, I am active in a network of churches that seeks to use their properties for good.

[Drew Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an essential book for all churches today who want to take seriously the call to steward their land and property for accomplishing the mission of Jesus Christ in the world.

[Robbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading. Some really good ideas in this book. The book is from a United States perspective but I think that most churches in the West will be having similar issues.