Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

It’s not uncommon. Long established churches, often in urban areas, recognize that the congregation now consists of more people living outside of the immediate neighborhood than in.

Recently, this request appeared on our ECF Vital Practices’ Facebook page: 

“One topic I’d like to see covered is successfully re-engaging with the neighborhoods around our churches.

“Many of our attendees are older so they have less active connections to  neighborhood institutions like schools... we are also a commuter church where members continue to attend as they move away...

“Lastly, many urban churches suffer from being disconnected, especially in areas of economic decline or gentrification where over a period of years entirely new groups of people unfamiliar with the local church or the neighborhood are now the majority.”

Are you part of a ‘commuter church?’ What are you doing to stay connected with your neighbors?

In “A Snapshot of Our Urban Neighborhood” Anna Olson shares the how the vestry at St. Mary’s Mariposa is beginning to re-engage with their neighbors.

What is your congregation doing? Please share your stories in the comment field below or in our Your Turn section, where you can submit stories, resources, and your own best practices.