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.
Real talk: a lot of communities depend on their churches, particularly black communities in the south, because no one else will help them. It’s a critical hub for community support (hell the GOTV efforts for Obama by black churches was so effective states started passing laws to block Sunday voting. Look up “souls to the polls.”)
A lot of folks here care a ton about organized labor. Churches were critical to those efforts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Even into the mid 20th century.
I think religion does more harm than good. I am fine with these churches shutting down. But there will be negative ramifications. We need to fill the gaps.