On September 21, 2024, a group of faithful folks from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington will be on pilgrimage to experience how church property is being redeveloped for ministry. We’ll be entering into the story of Arlington Presbyterian Church, a faith community who sold their property, watched their church building be demolished, and who—a decade later—are experiencing new life, worshiping in space leased from the affordable housing complex that was built on their former property and living into a transformed relationship with their neighbors and neighborhood. We’ll also visit a few other churches close by who have made big decisions about repurposing their property and are at different stages of development.
I met Arlington Presbyterian, affectionately known as APC, six years ago, when my seminary friend Ashley Goff was installed as their pastor. At that time, energy was low. APC were worshiping in borrowed space, reduced in number, mourning losses, and trying to look forward to a future they couldn’t quite see yet in a building that wasn’t quite built yet. I tried to preach a rousing sermon, but I worried about whether they were going to make it. I worried for my friend, who had taken on pastoral leadership in this most uncertain project.
This past Easter at APC, I experienced one of the most joy-filled and inspiring resurrection celebrations I have been a part of. The small, flexible worship space was packed with a remarkable diversity of people, including the motley crew of faithful that I met years back and an even motley-er crew of residents from the new building and surrounding community. We ended the service with communion in the open-to-all pocket park that APC created with the one small piece of land the developers couldn’t use. A little rain did nothing to dampen the alleluias and only slightly dampened the lunch that was laid out lovingly for anyone who needed a place at the table.
If you need a reminder that God is always doing a new thing…
If you’re reading the writing on the wall and knowing in your heart and your gut that your congregation’s current trajectory is not sustainable…
If you’re wondering what it actually looks like when a congregation makes a radical change of course…
If you are wondering what it would look like to be freed to put your congregation’s most significant assets to work in service of your neighbors…
If you are thinking seriously about repurposing church property and wonder what the journey could look like…
…this pilgrimage is for you!
We will pray and study the Word and share stories and eat good food. We will journey and (re)discover that wherever we go, God is already there, full of life and love and possibility.
Courageous Discipleship Pilgrimage: Reimagining Church Property
September 21, 2024, 8:30am-3:00pm
Register here. Space is limited; we will confirm your spot at the beginning of September.
The Rev. Anna B. Olson
Director, School for Christian Faith and Leadership
