Creative thinking and new approaches to funding and policy can maximize the civic value of religious properties
This initiative has much to say to the congregations who own and share historic buildings, as well as a wider array of civic leaders who see churches closing and are worried about the waste of resources when buildings - and much of what they host - are lost when congregations disappear.
By A. Robert Jaeger
Zion Baptist Church builds on a North Broad Legacy
Zion Baptist Church, which peaked at 6,000 members under civil rights leader and social activist Leon H. Sullivan, is typical of a congregation that is struggling to build upon the legacy of a larger-than-life figure who put the church on the map. Located on North Broad in the Nicetown/Tioga neighborhood, the church wants to use its annex to foster optimism.
By Constance Garcia-Barrio
Wharton-Wesley offers a beacon to Cobbs Creek.
Built in 1906, Wharton-Wesley United Methodist Church in Southwest Philadelphia’s Cobbs Creek neighborhood once had a congregation of 600, though today, that number hovers between 150 and 200. Many current members commute to attend services. “We have to reboot ourselves,” says the church’s community pastor and Temple University professor Reverend David W. Brown.
By Constance Garcia-Barrio
The Philadelphia Masjid in Mill Creek: a place to learn, gather, live.
Community involvement is akin to prayer at the Philadelphia Masjid in Mill Creek. “Our religion requires community outreach,” says Aazim Muhammad, 60, president and CEO of Sister Clara Muhammad Community Development Corporation.
By Constance Garcia-Barrio
Reimagining religious buildings begins with realizing what you already have.
Imagine a culinary incubator for “foodie-preneurs,” affordable housing with a day program for seniors, a Night Market showcasing healthy food and live music, a women’s self-defense training center or a basketball clinic where both kids and adults can raise their game.
By Linda Dottor
How can historic sacred places support civic engagement, social cohesion and neighborhood equity?
Churches, synagogues and mosques are among the many sacred places that have long served as anchors in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. They stand out for their distinctive architecture, large gathering spaces, cultural significance, strong sense of community and charitable works. Currently, Philadelphia’s historic sacred places are at a crossroads.