Churches fight to stay open as attendance dwindles
abcnews.go.com
Churches faced with empty pews are fighting to keep their doors open, while former houses of worship are being converted into bars, clubs and luxury condos.

Summary

Churches across the U.S. are grappling with dwindling attendance and financial instability, forcing many to close or sell properties.

The Diocese of Buffalo has shut down 100 parishes since the 2000s and plans to close 70 more. Nationwide, church membership has dropped from 80% in the 1940s to 45% today.

Some churches repurpose their land to survive, like Atlanta’s First United Methodist Church, which is building affordable housing.

Others, like Calcium Church in New York, make cutbacks to stay open. Leaders warn of the long-term risks of declining community and support for churches.

  • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
    19·
    9 days ago

    Neither my local library nor school has a weekly get together where we all hang out and talk.

    Also, uh, not everyone has kids. Do they not deserve community?

    • JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee
      11·
      9 days ago

      My local library has weekly reading days, crochet club, adult focused book clubs, and regular events.

      But the thing is that people in the community helped start those things. If your library doesn’t have any you should probably talk to them about starting something. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to be involved and increase the amount of people that visit!

    • Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world
      9·
      9 days ago

      The school was about what you said feeding kids. And yes, a lot of libraries have reservable meeting space now. More should for exactly the reason you are saying. I am agreeing with you about needing to fill the void, and saying we should expand schools and libraries to better and more consistently do that. Currently they probably only do that in blue states.

      • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
        6·
        9 days ago

        It sounded like you were telling me that there wasn’t a problem, because schools and libraries exist.

        Schools and libraries aren’t filling the void. They can, if we make them, but it’s not automatic.

        • Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world
          4·
          9 days ago

          Yeah, my bad. They do in some places, and I want them to do so in more. I also would like to reduce thier dependence on local government for funding.

    • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
      4·
      8 days ago

      Libraries actually almost always have multiple events a week. You may want to check your local branch out. Also, you’re describing a very extroverted interest.