As More Churches Approach Fiscal ‘Breaking Point,’ Housing Projects Are Providing A Lifeline
Churches in cities around the country have faced declining memberships and revenues over the last decade, a trend that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
As land becomes scarce in cities that are looking to build more housing, religious institutions are increasingly partnering with developers to build on their large pieces of valuable urban property, unlocking a long-term source of income for churches that are struggling financially. A rendering of the proposed redevelopment of the Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church site, including a new church building and 86 senior housing units.
By Jeff Pitts
2/3/2021
You know the drill by now. For nearly three decades, CITYVIEWâs Best Of Des Moines Poll has informed central Iowa about its biggest, best, brightest, tastiest, most fabulous, most effective, most fun, most entertaining, most interesting, its fittest and… You get the idea.
Being the best at something doesnât just happen. Rising to the top of the heap is hard work, but once itâs done, you might as well cash in. Being recognized as the Best Of Des Moines has changed many businesses and propelled them to places they previously wouldnât have thought possible. CITYVIEW expects that trend to continue.
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Retiring in the midst of a pandemic requires a different kind of farewell ceremony, which is what will happen Saturday for the minister at the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Greensburg.
A socially-distant farewell is planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for the Rev. Donna Havrisko, who is retiring after 18 years in the pulpit of the church along Route 819 in Hempfield. Her last day at Westminster Presbyterian will be Sunday.
Havrisko said she will be inside the church for those who want to get out of their cars and say goodbye, or will go outside to say farewell to parishioners who feel safer wishing her good luck in retirement from the safety of their vehicles.
SIOUX CENTERâJesse and Rachel Henkle love to travel, and theyâve made good on that through their years of work, ministering the word of God. Now their travels have taken them to Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center for Jesse to serve as senior pastor and Rachel to serve as church worship and media leader.
They started their new jobs with the new year, Jan. 1, but theyâve lived in Sioux Center for several months now. They first arrived in mid-November.
âWeâve attended church and been hanging around,â said Rachel, 39. âOur kids are in school and getting into that, but weâve only just started for real.â
Blue Christmas is for those whose holidays are bittersweet
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Everyone who loses a loved one probably learns to accept that all holidays will be bittersweet. And Christmas with its stress on gathering the entire family around a tree shining with tinsel and lights or a table loaded with food, and Andy Williams sing-nagging store shoppers that this is the most wonderful time of the year can make the pain of loss cut deeper.
Some churches have a special service meant for those mourning a loss. But a Blue Christmas aims to help them also remember, cherish and share those lost loved ones brought to life.