Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition:
A Virtual Roundtable

Thousands of church properties worth billions of dollars are being sold or repurposed each year. Nothing can stop the currents of change. But congregations and cities can take steps now to ensure a legacy directed toward communal good rather than private interests.

In Gone for Good?, Mark Elsdon marshals a diverse team of authors, including pastors, scholars, developers, and urban planners to explore the spiritual and practical aspects of church property transition. Congregations and cities can take steps now to ensure a legacy directed towards communal good rather than private interests.

This virtual program, featuring Mark and three contributors to Gone for Good?, will focus on how to assess the impacts of churches on their neighborhoods—and the gaps they will leave behind, the primacy of mission in any conversation about church property, transforming ministry in rural churches, and much more.

This event is free and open to all, but registration is required via this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1917403875087/WN_G1hSEeI0QROxfr9Fo3bwHQ.

After registering, you will receive an email with information about attending the webinar.

Email any questions to programs@14beacon.org.

SPEAKER BIOS

Jennie Birkholz, MHA is a national healthcare leader and consultant specializing in faith-based initiatives, rural community well-being, and collaborative networks. With over 20 years of experience, she has partnered with healthcare systems, faith communities, and nonprofits to develop innovative programs that strengthen community resilience. A co-author of Gone for Good?, she explores the evolving role of rural churches in her chapter. As a national speaker, she brings deep insight into how faith communities can drive meaningful change in health and social care.

Patrick Duggan is the Executive Director of the United Church of Christ Church Building and Loan Fund (CBLF), the oldest church-building society in the United States. He served as senior pastor of the Congregational Church of South Hempstead, United Church of Christ from 1995 to 2023.

Mark Elsdon lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning. He is the author of We Aren’t Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry and editor of the book, Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition. Mark holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley; Princeton Theological Seminary; and the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA and serves as co-founder of RootedGood and principal at Threshold Sacred Development. Mark lives in Madison, Wisconsin with his family.

Bob Jaeger co-founded Partners for Sacred Places in 1989 and currently serves as its President. He has overseen the publication of a recent study on the Economic Halo Effect of older sacred places and the development of programs to help congregations with internal capacity building, capital campaigns, engagement with the community, and the shared use of space. Bob holds a master’s degree in Preservation Planning from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.