Jakub Żerdzicki / Unsplash
Most congregations are deeply committed to caring for their communities. Many are also deeply unsure what to do about the economic realities of the communities we serve. We run food pantries, offer emergency assistance and pray for those struggling to make ends meet — and we should continue this good work. But when the conversation turns to systemic economic solutions like jobs, capital, housing or local business development, many church leaders hesitate. Their reluctance may have many causes, from the practical to the theological.
Economic development can feel too political, too technical or too far removed from “spiritual” work. But what if this work belongs at the very heart of congregational mission? The needs that churches seek to address in their communities are not wholly the result of individual circumstances. When we look carefully at the problems that persist year after year, we see systemic patterns and root causes. These communal problems invite congregations to move beyond charity and to explore economic vitality as part of the congregation’s mission rather than a distraction from it.
If we look at housing specifically, in many communities older or lower income residents are being forced to relocate due to the loss of affordable housing. Congregations can watch the erosion of socioeconomic diversity, or they can look for creative ways to help folks struggling to stay in their neighborhoods, such as using church property to create a more equitable and just community.
The prophet Isaiah paints a picture of housing for everyone, “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat” (65:21-22, NRSVUE).
What are the housing needs in your community? Does your church own property, an underused building or vacant land? What might be possible if your congregation approached economic development as spiritual work? God is a God who cares for us holistically. Therefore, the church needs to take a holistic approach to ministry and regard all of its good work as rooted in faith and led by the Spirit.
Resources
You’ve decided to build affordable housing on your church property. What’s next?
The “predevelopment” phase is crucial in faith-based efforts to develop church property. An expert in urban planning helps demystify the process.
By Nadia A. Mian
Affordable housing is part of a more just world
Facing rapid gentrification and expanding needs, the nonprofit Housing for New Hope adapts and innovates to work with people who need shelter, says its executive director.
Q&A with Russell Pierce
Rural churches are economic powerhouses for their communities
The outsize economic impact of rural churches on their communities calls for a renewed vision of their importance, according to a two-year study in North Carolina.
By Emilie Haertsch
Five tips for churches considering property development
Churches are learning how to get started well with adaptive reuse and property development, writes the co-founder of a nonprofit that has worked with hundreds of churches.
By Mark Elsdon
Before you go
Economic development does not require congregations to abandon immediate needs, to become policy experts, or to solve problems alone. It’s about taking seriously the full lives of our neighbors and the places we share with them. When churches begin to ask different questions about land, partnerships and long-term stability, they often discover ways to participate in transformational change. Approaching economic development as spiritual work is a call to see more clearly how God is inviting the church to take the next faithful step to help create communities where more people can live full, abundant lives.
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince R. Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity