Page 6 - Presbyterian Connection Fall 2025

6 FALL 2025
ConnectionP R E S B Y T E R I A N
presbyterian.ca
Stewarding Church Properties
By Karen Plater, Stewardship
Many congregations are grappling
with what to do with their church
buildings, some of which cost a
lot to run and maintain and are
underutilized through the week.
Over the past decade, thousands
of churches in Canada have
closed and it is anticipated that
even more churches will have to
decide what to do with their build-
ings in the future. Redevelopment
is about exploring the ways we
steward the property and build-
ing resources congregations have
been gifted, in the same way we
Over 20 Presbyterians participated in the Reimagine: Church, Land, Community Conference.
steward gifts of time and treas-
ure—finding ways that they can
be used in God’s mission effec-
tively.
The “Reimagine: Church, Land,
Community Conference,” held at
Wycliffe College in Toronto, Ont.,
in May, provided alternatives to
closing church buildings and sell-
ing to the highest bidder. Case
studies were shared about con-
gregations that have developed
parking lots into affordable hous-
ing projects, and others that have
become community hubs, while
also preserving space for wor-
ship. Redevelopment isn’t about
making money, it’s about finding
ways to serve God’s mission.
This conference brought to-
gether congregational leaders
with urban planners, architects,
Indigenous peoples and non-
profit housing developers. At-
tendees included people from
Presbyterian, United, Anglican,
Christian Reformed, Baptist, Mis-
sionary Alliance, Pentecostal and
other traditions. Over 20 people
from Presbyterian congregations
across Canada joined the con-
versation, sharing their stories
and exploring their options. They
included clergy and lay leaders,
professionals working in the field,
denominational staff and people
who had recently helped rede-
velop congregational properties.
At the conference, speakers
explored how churches can rede-
velop their spaces to help address
the housing crisis and provide af-
fordable spaces for community
gatherings and programs, serving
social needs like education, food
security and addictions. Ainsley
Chapman, PCC redevelopment
consultant and executive director
of Evangel Hall Mission, outlined
how working with professionals
on feasibility studies and pre-
development initiatives can free
up church members to focus on
ministry.
Jennifer Keesmaat, a renowned
urban planner and former chief
city planner for Toronto who has
helped faith groups redevelop
church land, challenged everyone
to consider how, as we densify
our cities, “we protect and en-
hance community infrastructure
and preserve vital social func-
tions.” Jennifer urged people to
work together to enhance com-
munity amenities and ensure
there are spaces for social, spirit-
ual and community use—spaces
churches have so often provided.
While she encouraged redevelop-
ment, she noted that every cir-
cumstance is different and cau-
tioned that redevelopment takes
time and includes substantial
risk, but it can be worth it. “The
biggest enemy [in development]
is greed,” she cautioned, as she
encouraged congregations to
develop capacity to support and
learn from one another.
Karen Robbins from St. An-
drew’s Presbyterian Church in
Lethbridge, Alta., wrote: “The
presentations were very thought-
provoking and our conversations
with other participants were also
meaningful. We came home
energized. Everything from my
watching of the PCC webinar (Re)
Developing Church Property/
Building, to email conversations,
to the Presbytery of Calgary-Ma-
cleod retreat where we discussed
the PCC’s Narrative of Hope and
Possibility document seems to be
aligned to help St. Andrew’s con-
sider its mission within the City of
Lethbridge.”
John Barrett, a church elder
and the new associate secretary
of Congregational and Com-
munity Ministries, who attended
with his minister, the Rev. Kirk
MacLeod and elder Ken Heckbert,
wrote: “There were many great
ideas shared and new contacts
made as together we consider
our future building and land plans
at Zion Presbyterian Church in
Prince Edward Island.”
Grant Program to Help Congregations Explore Redevelopment
At their spring meeting, the PCC’s Assembly Council approved that $2.5 million from the PCC’s New and Renewing Ministries Fund would be allocated to assist congrega-
tions considering projects to redevelop their buildings and property to better participate in God’s mission. Grants of up to $75,000 are available to congregations to conduct
feasibility and pre-development studies to determine the possibilities their building could realistically serve. A small advisory group working under the Life and Mission
Agency, supported by PCC staff Karen Plater and Ainsley Chapman and PCBC Chief Operating Officer Betty Kupeian, has been tasked to support congregations navigating
these processes and distribute the grants.
In June, over six grants, ranging from $10,000 to $75,000, were approved. Projects already include: exploring expanding affordable student housing; developing
supportive housing for people with disabilities; adding deeply affordable housing to church lands; and redeveloping a church property to provide more space for community
events and non-profit rentals.
The grant program is about more than renovating an existing building to better serve the congregation, it is a revisioning and reworking of buildings and property to
maximize service to the community. A feasibility study helps the congregation clearly connect their building to the congregation’s mission/vision, analyze the current human
and funding resources available, map out options, and develop preliminary implantation plans based on information gathered by professionals. By identifying community
needs and congregational assets and strengths and weaknesses, the studies can also identify potential partnerships with other community players and non-profits as well
as funding from municipal, provincial and federal governments, foundations, and others to help make dreams reality.
Grant terms, applications and a template Request for Proposal to conduct a feasibility study are posted at presbyterian.ca/funds. The committee will be meeting monthly
in the autumn and winter to approve grants as needs arise.