Climate Change Killed Off the Dinosaurs

The current economic crisis combined combined with the Bernie Madoff scandal has hit some Jewish nonprofits hard. The Jewish news service JTA reports that pressure is mounting for several Jewish educational institutions to merge.  Some Jewish charities will have to shut down entirely because their endowments have been wiped out.  (link to story)

The news story points out that a factor in the decision to merge is the inability for these organizations to adapt with the times and remain innovative and relevant. Over the years, their efforts became part of the establishment and overlapped the work of other organizations. What is true for the Jewish nonprofit world is no doubt true for Christians, even at the local congregational level. Economic pressures will have a winnowing effect on ministries that have outlived their relevance. Or it may pressure congregations to consider the wider context of their ministries.

Are other congregations duplicating what you do, and should you consider “merging” things like Vacation Bible School, food banks, adult education programs, Peace rallies, discussion forums, outreach…etc.? If your denomination has five churches all within driving distance of one another, and each boasts a sanctuary that today seats 1/5th of its historic capacity, this economy may be the catalyst that justifies reconfiguring those costly building assets.