Fresh Expressions of People Over Property

What if our church properties didn’t have to be a source of pain but one of purpose and profit?

A pastor at a United Methodist church once said that his job was like being the captain of a ship. Not only did he have to make sure the ship was on the right course, and meet the needs of all the passengers, he had to ensure that the engines were running smoothly, that water and power were working properly, and that nothing was leaking, cracking, or rotting. He was illustrating how our church buildings have become a burden for pastors and church leadership. More and more money is spent on keeping the building running instead of providing for the needs of people. Fresh Expressions of People over Property shows how to rethink the way we utilize the space we inhabit. Strategies, Scriptures, and stories help leaders reimagine their community spaces so that the church reflects this truth: God’s people value each other and the community more than property.

What if our church properties didn’t have to be a source of pain but purpose and profit?

Our church buildings, synagogues, and other religious places – which once stood as beacons of hope and reverence for its community – have become a burden for the organizations who seek to keep them standing. In efforts to patch leaky roofs and paint over years of wear, leaders are putting more and more money each year into property instead of people. The practices we have fallen into to keep a building running are not only demoralizing to the pastoral profession and the mission of the church, but they also run the risk of violating property tax laws and incurring more debt. What if our properties didn’t have to be a source of pain but purpose and profit? Can we as faith-based organizations begin to think collaboratively about how we might further our missions by creatively and intentionally rethinking how we utilize the space we inhabit? In this book the authors reflect on strategies, scriptures, and stories that help leaders faithfully reimagine their community spaces so that they reflect that God and God’s people value people over property.