Faithful Stewards: Maximizing Church Property for Income and Mission

Abstract

It is a challenging time for Christian churches in the United States. Membership and attendance are in decline. Giving is decreasing while costs are increasing. This has led some churches to try new approaches to grow or survive. They have turned to non-traditional funding sources, such as using their property and facilities to generate income. This is usually done by leasing part of the church’s space to outside organizations. Using insights from Scripture, literature, and personal interviews, this paper will determine the viability of this approach for congregations considering using their space in this innovative way.