Congregations open up their buildings to serve children, the hungry, the homeless and others in need. Sacred places stabilize neighborhoods, strengthen commercial districts and significantly add to the economic health of our communities. All of this is endangered, however, when congregations can no longer afford to maintain these aging buildings. Partners has developed a family of highly-acclaimed resources to help congregations connect better to their communities, raise capital funds in new ways and preserve their historic building for future generations. We are the nation's only non-sectarian, nonprofit organization dedicated the sound stewardship and active community use of America's older religious properties.
TIMING CAN BE EVERYTHING!

When it comes to the life of a sacred place, PSP knows that support at just the right time makes all the difference. Consider this example from Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, Dallas.

Oak Lawn is an anchor congregation in the Big D, one whose fabled history is decidedly Texan. The story goes that Rev. Hiram Cullum, an itinerate Methodist preacher, rallied the first congregants around his covered wagon in 1876 along the banks of Turtle Creek. Dallas had been officially incorporated only 20 years earlier.

The newly formed church bloomed with the city, eventually becoming a landmark that stretched an entire city block. And like many mainline churches, its trajectory took a painfully familiar arc – peaking in the 1950s with over 3,000 members, then declining significantly in the following decades.

During those years, the changes in Oak Lawn’s downtown neighborhood were immense. There was a period of when it shifted from an upscale environ to one considered undesirable. By the 1980s, property prices plummeted and many people fled. But throughout it all, Oak Lawn had a defining characteristic.

“Our commitment,” says Rev. Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler, Oak Lawn’s Senior Pastor, “has been to stay in this neighborhood, to minister exactly where we are planted, no matter what economic or demographic changes we face.”


Oak Lawn then and now

For inner-city churches with huge facilities, that commitment can be difficult to sustain. The cost of maintaining the structure while paying staff and fueling ministries has caused many historic sacred places to close their doors forever.

In a bid to avoid this fate, Oak Lawn sought the help of PSP, participating in a 2007 New Partners/New Dollars training sponsored by the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. After the training, Oak Lawn retained its close ties to PSP. In 2010 it applied for, and received, a small grant to conduct a building assessment. The report uncovered costly deferred maintenance, most notably the critical need to replace their roof which stretched three quarters of a block. Oak Lawn wondered, “Where will we get the funds for these repairs”

It was at this exact juncture that PSP provided a bridge to the future. Because of its reputation in fueling the restoration and revitalization of sacred places, PSP’s work with Oak Lawn attracted a donor willing to make a sizeable gift of $100,000, earmarked for Oak Lawn but administered through PSP.

How much difference did this make? Rev. Dr. Hosemann-Butler explains.

“When I first came on board at Oak Lawn, we were getting our new roof thanks to PSP. That grant was critical. It helped us not only replace our roof and accomplish other repairs; it allowed us to redirect funds to other areas of redevelopment.”

Suzy Yowell, Director of PSP’s Texas Office says, “The congregation of Oak Lawn doesn't just talk about embracing change and engaging their community, they live it!  In addition to the numerous programs they host inside their building, they also take their mission and energy into the neighborhood. The people and businesses around them see the congregation as friendly and accepting neighbors who provide for the needs of others. Truly knowing and understanding your community plays a key role in setting the stage for long-term sustainability. Oak Lawn is a model for this!”