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submitted 1 week ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

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.

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[-] 800XL@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago

Now the religious companies that remain are all merging together or being bought out by larger religious companies. They change their names to some douchey name that sounds like a shitty christian rock band and franchise. Somehow they're still allowed to be non-profits despite being so much for-profit.

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[-] expatriado@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago

quite region dependent, in the rural south they're still pretty strong, in the rest of the country and in large cities, not so much

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[-] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 16 points 1 week ago
[-] Nyxicas@kbin.melroy.org 15 points 1 week ago

Goes to show that churches have always been operating like they're businesses. Not much a good act of faith if you exploit the vulnerable.

[-] pigup@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago
[-] shittydwarf@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 week ago

Safer for the kids

[-] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

At least there's some good news!!!

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

Next up: Republicans trying to make church attendance mandatory.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

They're already turning schools into churches, so they're probably not too upset over this.

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[-] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 11 points 1 week ago

The church is nothing but a tool of opposition. Glad to see it have less influence.

[-] Balthazar@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

If a church can't be supported through its active membership, it should close. Better no church at all than one sold out to the world, making money from investments and forgetting their true purpose.

[-] Blackout@fedia.io 10 points 1 week ago

Kids can sleep easy tonight. The cult is dying.

[-] slurpeesoforion@startrek.website 10 points 1 week ago

Churches that shut down don't get burned down.

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this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2024
787 points (98.6% liked)

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