41% of congregations reported declines in donations in early months of pandemic while 28% saw increases, according to survey by Lake Institute on Faith & Giving INDIANAPOLIS — Many U.S. religious congregations currently are entering their annual fall fundraising and budget-planning season with uncertainty about their finances and reopening plans as the COVID-19 pandemic and […]
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Pushpay, the leading payments and engagement provider to the US faith sector, today announces ChurchStaq™, an all-inclusive suite of end-to-end engagement solutions including a comprehensive church management system (ChMS), mobile app, donor management and giving solution, to help churches know, grow, and keep their people. Today, ChurchStaq™ combines Pushpay’s giving and app solutions with Church […]
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By John H. Wright Jr., MAI, and Martin H. Aaron, MAI, SRA The role that religion plays in the midst of this pandemic is a philosophical matter. However, the role that religious facilities play is a decidedly practical matter — particularly for church mortgage lenders. Before the pandemic, 36% of Americans attended religious services weekly, […]
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released Commercial Buildings and Onsite Renewable Energy, a 15-page report summarizing data on the self-reported use of onsite renewable energy among a subset of U.S. commercial buildings. The information, including comparisons by building type, location and energy generated comes from the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program, whose ENERGY STAR […]
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By Brittany Kuhn Worship facilities design and construction is going through a renaissance of sorts. In recent years, there’s been a growing yet prominent trend toward increasingly versatile spaces. Traditional single-worship venues are being transformed into (or sometimes replaced by) modern community hubs that present clean lines, promote larger gathering spaces and offer appealing multifunctional […]
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A view of a recent lighting project install at Summit Church in Buffalo, Wyoming. (Photo courtesy of MARCUS HAMMOND) By Andres Caamano As churches across the country have had to adjust significantly in these challenging times, work on projects is still readily available. Unlike many other sectors that in recent months hit the brakes on […]
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By Bryan Christiansen Church maintenance management often comes with a two-fold challenge – having qualified staff to provide sufficient attention for each asset and providing funds to maintain the physical facilities over time. This unique dilemma exists mainly because a large majority of a church’s staff usually work part-time or are volunteers, and churches are […]
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With 350–400 congregants, Boulevard Baptist Church is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. About 60% of its members are 50 and older, and 30% are younger families. The tech-savvy church has a long history of live-streaming its worship services every week—even before COVID-19. When the new pastor started at Boulevard Baptist Church, older members of […]
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How churches are uniquely positioned to pave a new way of worship throughout a global pandemic — and beyond By Kathryn McCormack The current status of the world is uncertainty and fear — but churches are in a unique position as people look to faith and hope to get them through this trying time. Moreover, […]
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Adapting to a pandemic with virtual, interactive learning Q&A with Ron Procopio, General Manager, Church Facilities Conference & Expo (CFX); Operations Manager for WFX, 2006-2010; Show Director for The United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 2012- 2019 How did CFX Expo come about? Ron Procopio: CFX came together as the stars aligning at the right […]
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