Summary
Churches across the U.S. are grappling with dwindling attendance and financial instability, forcing many to close or sell properties.
The Diocese of Buffalo has shut down 100 parishes since the 2000s and plans to close 70 more. Nationwide, church membership has dropped from 80% in the 1940s to 45% today.
Some churches repurpose their land to survive, like Atlanta’s First United Methodist Church, which is building affordable housing.
Others, like Calcium Church in New York, make cutbacks to stay open. Leaders warn of the long-term risks of declining community and support for churches.
Yeah they don’t all do that. I was suggesting we expand the usage of libraries and schools to be the community center everywhere, because it has proven to work in many places. And it can do more.
Yeah, sadly, I remember growing up in an extremely rural area and the “library” there was literally one room, almost nothing in the way of content, no activities, and not even inter-library loan. Thankfully, my mother worked in the next county over, so we’d use that library system.
When I contrast that library with the Jefferson County Library and Denver County Library in Colorado…it’s breathtaking. Those two library systems are quite awesome! But I know there is quite a range of offerings that are called “libraries” in this country, depending on the tax base and/or population.