Stewarding sacred spaces and shared resources

By Eric Coons, UNY Trustees Chair | Email 

In recent years, many of our church families have faced the difficult decision to close their churches after a season of prayerful discernment. These are never easy moments. Each congregation leaves behind a unique legacy of faithful ministry, cherished memories, and deep connections to its community. 

When a church closes, responsibility for the building and its contents is entrusted to the Upper New York Conference Board of Trustees. Our role is to care for these properties with compassion, reverence, and respect for the history they represent. Some buildings have been lovingly maintained and remain in excellent condition. Others bear the marks of years of faithful service and changing circumstances. Some are nearly empty, while others are filled with furnishings, equipment, and ministry resources accumulated over generations. 

The trustees are called to be faithful stewards of these sacred assets. In some cases, church buildings have found new life as homes for emerging faith communities or congregations in transition. Many properties are sold at fair market value, and whenever possible, we hope they will continue serving as places of worship under another church organization. Other buildings have become valuable community spaces, continuing to bless their neighborhoods in new ways. Proceeds from these sales are carefully managed and periodically distributed to support ministries throughout the conference. 

Perhaps one of the greatest blessings has been the opportunity to share the contents of these churches with congregations that can put them to immediate use. What may no longer be needed in one place can become a tremendous gift to another church.  

Many of the congregations that we have been able to support have been small churches, but there are many larger churches also that have become blessed. Various song books, including The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, along with choir music have been distributed along with Bibles to help better supply church families. Many churches continue to benefit from sound system equipment to better enhance or replace what they are currently using. Several musical instruments have gone to churches to replace or enhance their current music ministry. A recent request was made to help with obtaining a signboard, communion set, and a microwave along with other items that were all able to be filled with equipment in these closed churches. Recently a pastor changed the church service time which resulted in the increase of families attending with youth, and they received a handbell set to start a music ministry with these youth. Some Vacation Bible Study materials were recently handed out, and another church will soon be blessed with many items from a youth ministry room. 

Recently, Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center filled a U-Haul truck with tables, office furniture, commercial kitchen equipment, maintenance tools, storage racks, carts, and other essential items. The donation saved the camp tens of thousands of dollars in replacement costs—and another truckload is still to come. 

Stories like these remind us that God continues to provide through the connectional ministry of the Upper New York Conference. While the closing of a church is usually accompanied by grief, the resources entrusted to that congregation can continue to strengthen ministries across the conference. In this way, sorrow is transformed into blessing, and the faithful generosity of one congregation lives on in the work of another. 

If you have a need or a wish for something to enhance the ministry of your church family, we encourage you to reach out to the Board of Trustees. We will continue to be the best stewards we can with what God has provided, and to God be the glory. 

To inquire about available equipment or furnishings, contact Eric Coons at efcoons785@gmail.com.