Has Your Church Relocated?

During my teenage years, my family worshipped in a large-city downtown church that had almost no impact on its surrounding community. Rather, it was largely a commuter church as most people, my family included, drove into town from the suburbs. And just as quickly drove back home. Eventually the church relocated to the suburbs as well. I regret being part of the "flee the city" migration.

Sometimes, however, there are healthy reasons to relocate from city to suburb. A pastor friend wrote me asking advice, which I'm passing to you:

Their downtown church facility burned down, and the insurance money is now in hand. What should they do?

1. They could stay downtown, but they have NO parking. Even street side parking is minimal.
2. The church is 145 years old, perhaps the oldest in its city, but it's gone through hard times in recent decades, declining in attendance.
3. He's newly arrived as their pastor, with expectation that he'll lead the church into a new era.
4. The members SAY they're open to relocating to the suburbs, and agree there is more growth potential there, using the insurance money to get a fresh start.
5. Other effective churches are in the portion of the city they'd be leaving.

What's your advice?

Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of 21 books on various aspects of church health and innovation.