Repurposing Churches is Becoming Something Big


Recently, a conference was held which included many specialists to help churches figure out what to do with their non used or under used properties. 

Decades ago, children's rooms in churches began to be rented to day care operators. This started when I was a mayor and I objected to the various fire and safety codes city staff said applied. It seemed to me if they were safe enough for children on Sunday mornings they were safe enough for children the rest of the week. The reason for all of this was churches were exempt from all kinds of codes and laws but some kicked in when childcare used the same space and charged for the service.

After childcare, working week coffee shops started locating in church social rooms. I suppose there are music lessons and other ideas. Now, the entire buildings are being sold. Sometimes a church retains ownership and the church becomes a low income housing place. The church can still meet in a rec room.

Something like four churches every week in the U.S. close so there is no shortage of buildings. We have all seen beautiful buildings in downtowns and while parking is a problem for some they are prime real estate and will serve communities better as restaurants and condos than they ever did as churches. 

I live on the edge of a downtown and have watched a large Christian Science church sit empty for several years. Then a developer bought it and torn down most of it included a magnificent sanctuary. It had crossed over into a tear down. There were several buildings and one or two stone ones were saved. It all is becoming a condo development.  

Churches were always a bad business model. The most expensive part where services were held was used least. Somehow this made sense in a world of make believe.

Comments

  1. HenrySeptember 25, 2024 at 9:25 PM

    You missed the point at your Fargo downtown church if you think the church should be a business model. But at least you took a sip of communion, which is a testament you are in fellowship with Christianity. Welcome again, Brother Lindgren.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jon LindgrenSeptember 26, 2024 at 8:34 AM

    Welcome back, Henry. Your use of the phrase "which is a testament..." is a version of the phrase Christians use a million times every week. That phrase "..what this means is.." allows the person using it to put himself in a position above the reader/listener.

    Yes, I did the communion ritual in our downtown Fargo church many times and I've done it in several other churches and denominations. That has now ended. In our church here, the ritual starts with standing in a line which moves quickly. The first station is a plate with pieces of bread. The next is a bowl of grape juice and someone chanting "... this blood...." One is to quickly dip the end of the piece of bread in the juice and pop in mouth. "What this means is.." some unsteady person who just wiped his arce dips his figures in the juice and I'm next. No way Jose.

    ReplyDelete

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