A Conversation with Mark Elsdon on Church Property Transition

The decline of the American Christian church does not mean anything about God, says Mark Elsdon, editor of the book "Gone For Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition." While the number of churches in the U.S. will likely be far fewer in 20 years, and over 100,000 church properties may change hands in the next decade, this is not the end. 

"I think there's a lot of hope. I think there's a lot of potential for new expressions of what it means to be the church, for new ways for God to show up in our lives and in our communities," Elsdon said in a recent conversation on The Last Service Podcast.

Elsdon, an ordained Presbyterian minister and co-founder of the organization Rooted Good, brought together diverse voices for the book "Gone For Good" to examine the massive scale of church closures and property transitions coming in the near future. 

Yet this trend is catching many denominations by surprise. Elsdon said there's likely an element of denial at play, as well as decentralized national structures that leave middle governing bodies unequipped. Many react by simply putting up a for sale sign rather than thinking strategically about their property from a theological framework.

"...what I hope the book is doing is calling us to think a little bit more forwardly and a bit more intentionally about these decisions," Elsdon said.

The book also examines the "halo effect" of churches in communities. One study found the average church contributes $4 million of value to the local economy each year through hosting voting, AA groups, scout troops, food pantries, and more. Yet as churches decline, they often lose touch with their surrounding neighborhood. 

Elsdon pointed to one powerful example of a Louisville, Kentucky, church located in an under-resourced area. Though the church building itself was falling apart, the pastor was deeply involved in ministering to people's lives. They partnered with the city and others to redevelop an entire city block into an incubator for new businesses, retail space, and more, choosing to prioritize community development over fixing their own building first.

"Rather than prioritize fixing their own building, they first said, let's make a contribution to our neighborhood here," Elsdon said. 

In the midst of the pain and grief churches will face over closures in the years ahead, Elsdon finds hope in reimagining what it means to be the gathered community of Christ in a given place. "It is much more than simply getting together for worship to sing songs and hear a sermon on Sunday," he said. He believes listening to and understanding context is key for churches to faithfully steward the property they've been entrusted with in this season.

You can find Elsdon's book "Gone For Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transitions" wherever books are sold online. Learn more about his organization Rooted Good at rootedgood.org.