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.

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
    443·
    6 days ago

    The internet is killing God but giving birth to a new age of conspiracy theorists.

    So, not much has changed.

    • futatorius@lemm.ee
      1·
      2 days ago

      They feed on gullibility and a craving to be pushed around by authority. Sadly, those aren’t going away anytime soon.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      Agreed. I welcome this, but I will withhold being optimistic that it means that it is because critical thinking skills are proliferating throughout the population…sure, it should be, because for decades now we have the ability to easily debunk really stupid claims nearly instantly, there are a lot of people making a lot of money pushing complete nonsense at people with algorithms now…

      If I were to guess at the real reason it’s because, well, there is a lot of entertainment that church is in competition with: games, streaming services, social media, sportsball, reality TV and so on…and face it, attending church is generally dull as dirt.

      • futatorius@lemm.ee
        2·
        2 days ago

        Or the membership of individual churches is increasing, while the number of churches is declining. Reverend Bob’s Drive-Thru Church of Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezus on a Jet Ski is probably doing roaring business.

        • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          Ha ha, the jet ski really paints a picture. The Righteous Gemstones did have those ridiculous monster trucks, but I don’t remember a jet ski!