Finding Hope in a Changing Church: A Path Toward Sustainability
For many churches, the realities of today’s landscape can feel overwhelming. Attendance isn’t what it used to be, budgets are tighter, and beloved spaces sit emptier than before. The ministries that once thrived may now struggle to find enough hands to carry them forward. And for those who have given their hearts, time, and resources to the church, facing these changes can feel deeply personal.
You are not alone. Across the country, churches are wrestling with the same questions:
- How did we get here?
- What happens next?
- Is there a faithful way forward?
The good news is that there is always a next faithful step. But discovering it requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to imagine new possibilities.
The CBFNC Church Sustainability Initiative (CSI) is here to walk alongside churches as they discern their future—not with fear, but with faith. This is not about failure. This is about faithfully living into what God is calling your church to be today and in the years ahead.
What Does Church Sustainability Mean?
Sustainability is not just about keeping the doors open. It’s about ensuring that your church’s ministry is viable, faithful, and life-giving—for the present and the future.
For some congregations, sustainability may mean reimagining ministry, sharing space, or developing partnerships. For others, it may mean embracing a new model, merging with another congregation, or even discerning a legacy of ending well. No matter the path, this is a journey that should be made with wisdom, prayer, and support.
Sustainability starts by taking an honest look at where your church stands today.
Gently Assessing Where Your Church Is
- Finances: Are We Able to Support Ministry in the Long Term?
Church budgets are reflections of mission and priorities. But when financial resources are stretched thin, it can become harder to focus on the things that truly matter—worship, service, discipleship, and community care.
Consider:
- Are we depending on a small group of donors to sustain our church?
- Are we using our financial resources effectively for ministry, or are most funds going to maintenance and upkeep?
- If giving continues at its current rate, what will our finances look like in five years?
A Sustainable Approach: Instead of seeing financial challenges as a crisis, churches can explore new funding models, partnerships, and stewardship practices that allow for a future beyond survival.
- Property: Are We Using Our Space in the Best Way?
Many churches were built in a time of growth, with large sanctuaries, Sunday School rooms, and gathering spaces that were once full. But today, these same spaces may feel too big for the current congregation—and the cost of maintaining them can be overwhelming.
Consider:
- How often are our church buildings being used during the week?
- Could our space be shared with other congregations, nonprofits, small businesses or community groups in a way that aligns with our mission?
- Are we holding onto our building because we need it, or because it represents an emotional attachment to the past?
A Sustainable Approach: Many churches are finding life-giving ways to use their buildings by partnering with organizations, leasing space, or reconfiguring their property to better serve their mission today.
- People: Who Is Here, and How Are They Engaged?
Sustainability isn’t just about numbers in the pews—it’s about engagement and investment in the church’s life.
Consider:
- How many of our members are actively involved in leadership, ministry, or service?
- Is our church growing younger, staying the same, or aging?
- Do we have the volunteer capacity to sustain our ministries for the next five years?
A Sustainable Approach: Healthy churches focus on discipleship and leadership development, ensuring that new people are invited into meaningful roles in the church community.
- Giving Units: Do We Have a Strong and Diverse Support Base?
Many churches find themselves in a fragile financial position because a large portion of their budget comes from a small number of people. If those individuals move away, pass away, or experience financial hardships, the church’s stability is at risk.
Consider:
- Is our giving base made up of multiple generations, or primarily one age group?
- If a few key donors could no longer give, how would that impact our budget?
- Are we actively teaching stewardship to new and younger members?
A Sustainable Approach: Churches can strengthen their financial future by broadening their base of support, teaching generosity as a spiritual practice, and exploring new revenue streams.
A Path Forward: Discovering Your Church’s Next Faithful Step
If these questions feel overwhelming, take a deep breath. This is not about despair—it’s about discovery. Every church has a future, but not every church’s future looks the same.
That’s why the CBFNC Church Sustainability Initiative (CSI) exists—to help churches navigate these decisions with care, wisdom, and faith.
Through CSI, churches can:
- Participate in learning cohorts to connect with other congregations on similar journeys
- Receive guidance and coaching to assess their unique challenges and opportunities
- Explore different pathways forward, including resetting ministry, forming partnerships, or discerning a legacy of faithful transition
- Find hope, not fear, in discerning what comes next
Questions for Reflection
- What is God calling our church to be in this season?
- Are we willing to make changes to ensure we remain faithful and sustainable?
- Who do we need to invite into this conversation?
- How can we seek guidance and wisdom as we move forward?
If your church is asking these questions, you are not alone. The Church Sustainability Initiative is here to help.
Do you want to see if the Church Sustainability Initiative is right for your congregation? Take the Church Sustainability Pathway Discovery Guide for better insight here.
To learn more about how CBFNC can support your congregation, visit www.cbfnc.org/sustainability.
– By Andy Hale
CBFNC associate executive coordinator
This is one article in a seven-article series on church sustainability. Access the other six below:
Read Church Sustainability Series: Ethical Partnerships and Sustainable Congregations here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Reimagining Sacred Spaces here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Redefining Success, Maintaining & Failure here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Avoiding Pitfalls and the Mythological Comeback Kid here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Sustaining Care here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Rethinking Ministry Roles here.
