Churches fight to stay open as attendance dwindles
abcnews.go.com
Churches faced with empty pews are fighting to keep their doors open, while former houses of worship are being converted into bars, clubs and luxury condos.

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.

  • Chaotic EntropyEnglish
    16·
    7 days ago

    The risk is that all the mindless drones and zealots that they have actively created over hundreds of years are now off somewhere else doing the same shitty things they were doing before but for someone else, potentially someone even worse than the church.

    • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
      2·
      7 days ago

      For example of a modern religion that exists outside of traditional churches, look at something like ufology. Then in Silicon Valley they have the new AI religion.

    • ours@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      7 days ago

      Just look at the overlap of religious fundamentalists and conspiracy believers.

      They got the most crooked and bonkers president elected. Ah yes, the spoiled NYC billionaire is going to save the children from the lizard people. Praise be!

      • Chaotic EntropyEnglish
        2·
        7 days ago

        He definitely won’t be the first to sell Trump brand human skin to the lizards.