Rethinking the Church Building

The church is not the building! And yet, many communities of faith find themselves navigating how to sustainably steward their sacred spaces. For the last several years, we’ve gathered stories and expertise across our connection. This toolkit seeks to help churches discern how they might view their building as an asset to their neighborhood and community. It includes:

Key considerations before sharing your space
Evaluating a potential building partner
Building viability checklist
Zoning and Tax Implications
Determining Fair Market Value
Implications for Human Resources
Models to Explore
Facility Use Policy Examples

Access the Toolkit Here

Season 2, Episode 12 of Table Talk

In this Thanksgiving Special episode of Table Talk, Rev. Susan Spieth and Rev. Sharlet Panhalkar join us for a conversation about nurturing radical hospitality in United Methodist congregations. Rev. Spieth shares insights from visiting 50 churches, asking “I was a stranger. Did you welcome me?” Rev. Panhalkar introduces her four-phase model of mutual radical hospitality, developed through her Vanderbilt doctoral work, where both host and guest are valued gift bearers. Together, they explore how hospitality serves as the starting point of evangelism and discipleship. This conversation offers practical wisdom for creating welcoming communities where all people experience God’s transformative love.

S2E12 Resources

I Was a Stranger: Reflections From First-Time Visits to 50 Churches, Susan Spieth

Additional Resources

10/1/24 Faith & Innovation's Rethinking the Church Building Webinar