The Stained Glass Cliff
Who falls off the “stained-glass cliff” when leading a dying church? When young, new or female clergy take over a struggling congregation, they often face the exhausting task of closing the church.
Resurrection Hope: Church Closure and a Faithful Future
Pastor Lorrin Radzik preaches resurrection — even after closing two churches. For courageous leaders, death is not the end of our story.
A Sending, Not an Ending: Pentecost and Church Closure
Church closure is not the end of the Spirit’s work in a community. Good Friday Collaboration co-Founder Chelsey Hillyer remembers Pentecost as a sending, not an ending.
Lent, Lasts, & Other Holy Things
Can last things be holy? What can we learn as we navigate last things and encounter scripture anew?
Dying Churches
Is it possible to say “Dying Church” and “Congregational Hospice” without stigma? Unfortunately, those phrases are rarely used that way. Fear transforms “dying” and “hospice” from neutral descriptors to stigmatized terms.
Closing Churches: What (Not) to Say
I wasn't sure what to say and what not to say. All I knew was that I felt punched in the gut when a denominational official told me that my beloved church had “Failed.”
So You Think Your Church Might Close?
Good Friday Collaborative’s Diane Kenaston offers 10 practical actions any leader can take if you think your church might close.
Asking for a Friend…The “Bigger Picture” of Church Closure
In this installment of the Good Friday Collaborative’s advice column “Asking for a Friend…” Jay in the UK asks about the bigger picture of church closure.
Denominational Resources for Closing and Merging Churches
Denominational resources for church closure and merger include congregationalist and centralized polities. Read more from Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Reformed, Anglican, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Church of Christ, Catholic, Quaker, and uniting churches.
Church Closure & Merger Books
Thinking about church closure or merger? The Good Friday Collaborative has assembled a book list for our newsletter subscribers. Download the annotated resource list as a first step for support in the sacred work of congregational endings.
A Blessing for Good Friday
When congregations close, it can feel like a perpetual Good Friday.
This blessing is for you.
You are not alone.