For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. This passage from holy scripture was echoed in a final Mass at the All Saints Parish in Buffalo, New York, on a warm summer Sunday. But for many parishes across the United States, it may be too late to find comfort in those words.
The Diocese of Buffalo is one of the many religious institutions facing a decline in attendance. Father Bryan Zielenieski, the leader of the diocese’s renewal and development, notes that his diocese has lost about 100 parishes in recent years and expects to close another 70.
Nationwide, the trend is similar. In the 1940s, nearly 80% of Americans belonged to a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple. Today, that number has dropped to 45%. Only 32% of Americans worship in a house of prayer weekly.
To stay afloat, some churches are getting creative. In Atlanta, the First United Methodist church has been converted into a series of 3,000-square-foot condos, while a church in Syracuse, New York, is developing residential property on its land to fund its ministry and help the community.
However, not all churches are giving up. Pastor Jasmine Smothers of the First United Methodist church in Atlanta is working on a “God-sized” plan to save her church from closing by developing the church’s land into affordable housing.
Despite the challenges, Father Zielenieski remains optimistic. He believes people will continue to turn to the church for comfort in times of crisis, citing the example of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
But he also warns against taking the church for granted. “We’ve never asked the question, how is it going to be there and how is that going to stay?” he said.
As the All Saints Church in Buffalo prepares to close in the coming weeks, its priests have negotiated a deal to prevent the new owners from turning it into a place that encourages sinful behavior. For the thousands of declining churches across the United States, the time for reflection and adaptation has come. As Father Zielenieski so eloquently put it, “it’s not just about praying about the situation, but to look at the hard data and say, where does the church need to move?”