Churches fight to stay open as attendance dwindles
abcnews.go.com
Churches faced with empty pews are fighting to keep their doors open, while former houses of worship are being converted into bars, clubs and luxury condos.

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.

  • happydoors@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    I worked for an agency helping close a midwestern diocese. They branded it a positive thing but I was in the meetings with priests hearing the low down and how closings will go. It’s sad. Half the priests are old and just trying to get through. The other half want to help but are being told the cost of their renovations is more important. Let it crumble.

  • esc27@lemmy.world
    1221·
    7 days ago

    Boardroom meme:

    Boss: Church attendance is down. What can we do to turn this around?

    Person 1: discreetly move pedophile pastors around to hide their proclivities?

    Person 2: assure the congregation that we still hate gay people

    Person 3: follow the teachings of Christ and show love and charity to our neighbors regardless of who they are

    Person 3 is thrown out the stained glass window.

  • GrammarPolice@lemmy.world
    40·
    6 days ago

    I pray to God everyday that i can live long enough to witness the day humanity completely abandons religion. Inshallah🙏

  • cows_are_underrated@feddit.org
    671·
    7 days ago

    Some churches repurpose their land to survive, like Atlanta’s First United Methodist Church, which is building affordable housing.

    That’s something more churches should do. They always preach about “helping the poor” but most don’t give a fuck.

  • WhatSay@slrpnk.netEnglish
    45·
    7 days ago

    Interesting that they can’t stay afloat financially, because they don’t pay taxes.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
    673·
    7 days ago

    churches are closing

    Good

    Leaders warn of the risks

    The risks of what? The risk of not returning to the dark ages where we damn near all believed the imaginary writings of goat herders and killed for that?

    Thanks, no thanks, I love that risk.

  • Chessmasterrex@lemmy.world
    36·
    6 days ago

    From what it seems to me, the megachurches are doing okay. It’s the more traditional denominations that are suffering. Overall religion might be on a decline, but certain sects are flourishing. One silver lining about some of the megachurches is that they’re led by a strong personality and once they’re gone, the whole organization putters out. They’re more organized around an individual than a theology.

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
    443·
    7 days ago

    The internet is killing God but giving birth to a new age of conspiracy theorists.

    So, not much has changed.

  • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
    24·
    6 days ago

    No, don’t close your damn doors, open them up to the homeless. Make these useless buildings good for something!

  • 800XL@lemmy.world
    16·
    6 days ago

    Now the religious companies that remain are all merging together or being bought out by larger religious companies. They change their names to some douchey name that sounds like a shitty christian rock band and franchise. Somehow they’re still allowed to be non-profits despite being so much for-profit.