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For sale signs in front of church property are becoming rather common. I don't go to churches for anything other than the occasional funeral these days but apparently church membership is literally dying off. In the 1960s, new churches were being built all over as congregations were growing. Some expanded at their current location and others moved and built where they had more room.
Around here lately, the congregations are merging and selling one set of buildings because they can't afford the upkeep. Other churches are just shutting down because they don't have any younger members. There is also a problem finding clergy as fewer are entering the field. In the rural areas and even small towns, one clergyman/woman usually serves 2 or 3 churches.
There have also been the itinerant preachers that come into town and start a congregation in someone's basement with the goal of starting a new church by attracting those disillusioned with their current church. Some people didn't like it when females were allowed into the clergy which cleared the way for the more traditional preachers. One of these groups got fairly large and raised a lot of money only to have the preacher and the money disappear at the same time. Apparently nobody had checked the guy out. He used a false name and they never found him.
One of the largest Lutheran churches in town split when same sex partners were allowed into the clergy. Now those 2 groups are slowly dying off too.
Are churches going up for sale in your area?
Around here lately, the congregations are merging and selling one set of buildings because they can't afford the upkeep. Other churches are just shutting down because they don't have any younger members. There is also a problem finding clergy as fewer are entering the field. In the rural areas and even small towns, one clergyman/woman usually serves 2 or 3 churches.
There have also been the itinerant preachers that come into town and start a congregation in someone's basement with the goal of starting a new church by attracting those disillusioned with their current church. Some people didn't like it when females were allowed into the clergy which cleared the way for the more traditional preachers. One of these groups got fairly large and raised a lot of money only to have the preacher and the money disappear at the same time. Apparently nobody had checked the guy out. He used a false name and they never found him.
One of the largest Lutheran churches in town split when same sex partners were allowed into the clergy. Now those 2 groups are slowly dying off too.
Are churches going up for sale in your area?
