Reframing the Conversation about Church Endings
How can we reframe our conversations about closing, merging, changing, or doing church “differently"? Rev. Libby Howe frames change — even hard change — through the lens of hope and holy imagination.
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.”
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.