Holy Closure: Leaving a Legacy of Mission and Ministry
Like living organisms, congregations have a life cycle: from birth to maturing to dying. In a world of change and challenges, there are congregations in the Montana Synod who are wondering about their future and if their congregation will close. These are painful and difficult questions.
Recently, my mother entered Hospice. She is nearing the end of her life (at 96). Now, although she feels quite good and is not actively dying, she is receiving care and support for what I am thinking will be the final chapter of her life. The gift of hospice is that it gives us, her family, the words and ways to care for her now and to be honest about what is coming – that she will die. We are not in control of when, but we know that it will happen. There is a freedom and gift in facing the truth and then living into each day to savor and live with fullness. The gift of hospice is that we can focus on living now, prepared to face the eventual death of my mom.
Some congregations in the Synod (and all around the church) are more actively dying than others. The word hospice is used in some of these circumstances. The honest conversations about the closing of a congregation allow those who are a part of the congregation to grieve openly, and to make plans for the end to come, not with dread but in hope that we are people who believe in new life and that we are gifted to trust that God’s promise of new life comes out of death.
There are resources and guides for congregations to access to begin (or continue) the conversation about how to close a congregation and to leave a legacy. The Montana Synod staff desire to walk with you in your discernment and encourage you to engage in courageous conversations about the future of your congregation, whether that is in faithfully making the decision to close or to engage in some process of renewal. There are strong emotions that people feel about the reality of being part of a declining congregation. Grief and loss, losing the stability and comfort of a congregation, and shame and fear of failure, wondering how the congregation got to this point. If your congregation is asking these questions, please know that you are not alone. There are many explanations for why congregations are facing the possibility of closure: shifts in the culture around us, changing demographics in rural communities and in our towns and cities.
The question is how we honestly and openly address these realities. I first heard about “holy closure” several years ago. I’ve seen and heard about congregations making the hard decision to close, based on facts and trends, not with a sense of shame, but with a hopeful view of the future and God’s grace and mercy that brings new life even out of what appears to be ashes. Some congregations have sold their building and been able to make significant gifts to support Synod and churchwide ministries as well as other Lutheran and local ministries that allow the congregation’s legacy to be passed on. First English Lutheran in Great Falls is in the process of closing and gifting their building to Helping Hands ministry that has been involved in feeding the hungry in the community and which has expanded their ministry in significant ways in the last three years. With the use of the building dedicated to the ministry, the leadership is looking into how they can expand the ministry in the future to share Gospel love with those who are in need. Some congregations have discerned that their building is a burden and that upkeep and repairs hinder the people from being engaged in ministry in their community, so they have sold or given their building away and have gathered as people of God in another space to focus on a ministry of outreach and care.
Leaders in congregations: there are resources to assist you as you engage in discerning the future of your congregation. Please contact the Synod Office for a list of resources and to consult with Bishop Laurie, Pastor Brenda or me about engaging in a conversation about Holy
May God’s grace and peace sustain you,
Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger
Director for Evangelical Mission
Montana Synod
Like living organisms, congregations have a life cycle: from birth to maturing to dying. In a world of change and challenges, there are congregations in the Montana Synod who are wondering about their future and if their congregation will close. These are painful and difficult questions.
Recently, my mother entered Hospice. She is nearing the end of her life (at 96). Now, although she feels quite good and is not actively dying, she is receiving care and support for what I am thinking will be the final chapter of her life. The gift of hospice is that it gives us, her family, the words and ways to care for her now and to be honest about what is coming – that she will die. We are not in control of when, but we know that it will happen. There is a freedom and gift in facing the truth and then living into each day to savor and live with fullness. The gift of hospice is that we can focus on living now, prepared to face the eventual death of my mom.
Some congregations in the Synod (and all around the church) are more actively dying than others. The word hospice is used in some of these circumstances. The honest conversations about the closing of a congregation allow those who are a part of the congregation to grieve openly, and to make plans for the end to come, not with dread but in hope that we are people who believe in new life and that we are gifted to trust that God’s promise of new life comes out of death.
There are resources and guides for congregations to access to begin (or continue) the conversation about how to close a congregation and to leave a legacy. The Montana Synod staff desire to walk with you in your discernment and encourage you to engage in courageous conversations about the future of your congregation, whether that is in faithfully making the decision to close or to engage in some process of renewal. There are strong emotions that people feel about the reality of being part of a declining congregation. Grief and loss, losing the stability and comfort of a congregation, and shame and fear of failure, wondering how the congregation got to this point. If your congregation is asking these questions, please know that you are not alone. There are many explanations for why congregations are facing the possibility of closure: shifts in the culture around us, changing demographics in rural communities and in our towns and cities.
The question is how we honestly and openly address these realities. I first heard about “holy closure” several years ago. I’ve seen and heard about congregations making the hard decision to close, based on facts and trends, not with a sense of shame, but with a hopeful view of the future and God’s grace and mercy that brings new life even out of what appears to be ashes. Some congregations have sold their building and been able to make significant gifts to support Synod and churchwide ministries as well as other Lutheran and local ministries that allow the congregation’s legacy to be passed on. First English Lutheran in Great Falls is in the process of closing and gifting their building to Helping Hands ministry that has been involved in feeding the hungry in the community and which has expanded their ministry in significant ways in the last three years. With the use of the building dedicated to the ministry, the leadership is looking into how they can expand the ministry in the future to share Gospel love with those who are in need. Some congregations have discerned that their building is a burden and that upkeep and repairs hinder the people from being engaged in ministry in their community, so they have sold or given their building away and have gathered as people of God in another space to focus on a ministry of outreach and care.
Leaders in congregations: there are resources to assist you as you engage in discerning the future of your congregation. Please contact the Synod Office for a list of resources and to consult with Bishop Laurie, Pastor Brenda or me about engaging in a conversation about Holy
May God’s grace and peace sustain you,
Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger
Director for Evangelical Mission
Montana Synod
Holy Conversations
10 options for congregations considering a vital and sustainable future (Adapted from the North Carolina Synod)
Choosing Transformation: making significant change to current context from within to connect with God’s mission.
Choosing Partnership: engaging in shared ministry with another congregation(s) for the sake of the gospel.
Choosing Resurrection: embracing the end with belief in the promise that God is doing a new thing.
Choosing Partnership: engaging in shared ministry with another congregation(s) for the sake of the gospel.
Choosing Resurrection: embracing the end with belief in the promise that God is doing a new thing.
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INTENTIONAL VITALITY PROCESS is a option is grounded in Bible study, prayer, conversation, reflection and action while clarifying the congregation’s part in God’s mission. Led by an outside facilitator over 2 years, this intentional vitality process seeks transformation in the congregation’s life through purposeful change.
REDEVELOPMENT is a spiritual and structural process that engages the congregation in leadership, structural, and programmatic changes. The process has a heavy focus on rerooting in your community. This option requires a congregational vote and a commitment to new pastoral leadership identified in conjunction with the bishop and director for evangelical mission. The process is guided by a congregational redevelopment team, new pastor, and the director for evangelical mission. Considerations are current size, capacity, and the mission field. The synod and the congregation must be in agreement that this is a viable redevelopment site. SELLING THE BUILDING is an option if the building impedes mission or is the only financial asset. With funds from the sale, existing membership would find a new place to worship and be in mission. As with the other options in this category careful attention to God’s mission in the new locale and changes in leadership are important. |
YOKING is when two or more congregations agree to remain in their existing buildings, remain separately incorporated, and share pastoral staff. This option offers the opportunity for two or more congregations to work cooperatively in ministry and afford the services of pastoral staff. This is the most viable option for a full communion partnership.
MERGER is when two or more congregations move together into one of the existing buildings and share resources. Often a merger allows two struggling congregations to share one pastor and pool dwindling resources, enabling a continued presence in a community. Merger may be the best option when resources are limited and there is obvious duplication of buildings and ministry. CONSOLIDATION is when two or more congregations sell their buildings, change leadership, and move to a new location with a new sense of ministry and a new name. This option requires clear strategic planning and an understanding by all, while history will be honored, the past will not be preserved. This choice is about mission for today and for the future. ANCHOR CHURCH is an possibility when a struggling congregation initiates and partners with healthy congregation to share resources.
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CLOSING AND RE-OPENING AS A NEW CHURCH is best when a congregation that values a presence in the community over its own needs to maintain ministry, this option provides a vital entry point for a new congregation. The congregation chooses to end its ministry - to close the doors for 12 to 18 months - then reopen as a new mission start. Existing members are commissioned to join other congregations while the synod works to identify the new mission focus, leadership, and plan. The building
and assets in full are turned over to the synod. WORD & SERVICE MISSION is a viable option when congregations with a significant existing social ministry may choose to close as a Word & Sacrament community and find a future as a Word & Service mission. Existing members direct their energies to their social ministry alone while finding a new church home in another congregation. This option includes holy closure for the Word and Sacrament community. Sustainability for the mission often includes organizing as a non-profit. HOLY CLOSURE allows Good Friday grief to become Easter joy when a congregation lives into the promise of death and resurrection. Through Holy Closure, members find a deep sense of satisfaction and faith leaving a strong legacy which includes paying forward financial resources for the sake of the Gospel. Holy closure includes the sober realization of the existing situation and a period of time to mourn the loss of the congregation many people have loved. The procedural steps in the process our outlined ELCA’s booklet Leaving a Legacy of Mission and Ministry. |
Useful Links for Congregational Discernment
Sustainability Assessment for the Montana Synod
Worksheet on Congregational Sustainability
Holy Conversations Booklet
Guidelines for Disposal of Records for Disbanding Congregations
Congregational Records Retention Schedule
Synod Records Retention
Worksheet on Congregational Sustainability
Holy Conversations Booklet
Guidelines for Disposal of Records for Disbanding Congregations
Congregational Records Retention Schedule
Synod Records Retention