Rev. David Schoen Hosts ZOOM Discussion of Resourcing Church Legacies
Upcoming Zoom Discussion with focus on Church Legacy Distribution, January 26 at 3 PM Eastern Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86213209217?pwd=a2lrUVdrMDJZTVlvaEdhNEJ5SzhXZz09
Meeting ID: 862 1320 9217
Passcode: 543501
An update from CARDD this past November on churches reported closed after the 2021 church change and statistic report showed that so far 37 churches closed in 2021 and 27 in 2022. These figures will probably increase when church information is entered this year into the database. How are these closed churches distributing their legacy assets including members, archives, buildings, and financial assets? How can conferences and national ministries resource and assist congregations making these important legacy decisions?
Join in this zoom conversation with other conferences to discuss resourcing church legacies. I will be sharing information and asking your assistance in the year ahead on a study of closed church legacy distributions. Data received from this research will help us understand the impact that church legacies are making in the wider church, communities, and world.
Resources for Legacy and Closure
Gone for Good Watch for the publishing of Gone for Good highlighting what we are losing as church property changes at an unprecedented speed and scale; and helps us imagine what is possible in their place, edited by Mark Eldson (We Aren’t Broke). Patrick Duggan wrote a chapter for Gone for Good and is also featured in this videofrom the Property Meets Purpose conference panel.
So You Think Your Church Might Close: 10 Practical Actions to Start Now. Good Friday Collaborative’s Diane Kenaston offers 10 practical actions for leaders in churches that might close.
Taking the First Step in Archiving Your Church’s Records; a virtual workshop led by the archivists at the Congregational Library and Archives. Two documents are attached from the archivists:
Records management = a one-page document that briefly describes records management. On the back side is a helpful breakdown of what are "church records".
MissionBox retention schedule - a helpful guide for deciding how long to hold on to specific records. Geared towards all non-profits but still very helpful.New Building a Legacy: Learning, Discerning, and Leaning blogs by Charlie Kuchenbrod, Legacy Specialist for Southern New England Conference focus on Fruitfulness: Releasing Locked Up Assets, Theology of Legacy Churches, and Changing the Narrative: Moving from “Decline, Failure, Closure, and Death” to “Maturity, Legacy Building, Ministry Completion, and Resurrection.” Watch of the upcoming vimeo videos of Closing Thoughts on conversations with Charlie on his blogs.
UCC CARDD released the 2022 Statistical Profile with reflection/discussion questions for church leaders as well as a great number of special reports from various area of ministry in the UCC, including the Church Building & Loan Fund” Continued Commitment to Transformation (p.86-88) and my report on Church Cemeteries, Columbaria and Memorial Gardens (p.58-59).