Building for Hope
One Congregation’s Response to the Needs of the Community – from Barbara Shaffer
Arlington Presbyterian Church (APC), the sole Presbyterian church in the southside of Arlington, Virginia was where my children were baptized and confirmed, and where I became a ruling elder. It was constructed in the 1950’s on busy Columbia Pike when its membership numbered 1,000. Over the years, the membership numbers continued to dwindle, the use of space within the building was underused, while the costs of upkeep of an older building continued to increase. Meanwhile, Arlington County saw a huge decrease in affordable housing as the cost of real estate in Arlington continued to rise.
The APC session, following a retreat, decided to focus on affordable housing and took the idea to the congregation, who asked why this focus and how do we know this is the leading of the Holy Spirit? So session went back for a further prayerful period of discernment, including a New Beginnings assessment, hired a consultant, engaged in prayer and Bible study, and continued to meet with the congregation. Then they headed out into the community in pairs to talk with people in the community, including renting space to a food truck, where they could sit with members of the community while they ate and hear their stories of what was needed for them and their families.
Meeting with nonprofits in the area to avoid duplication of efforts and see what needs were not currently being met, they encountered the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. With time and lots of prayer and discernment, the congregation finally decided to sell its property, with approval of National Capital Presbytery, for affordable housing to be built upon it (after the church was taken down).
APC now worships in leased space on the ground floor of the affordable housing building, which also has community business space on the ground floor. APC also bought back enough land to make a neighborhood green space. And they are able to provide substantial grants for additional needs in the community with the proceeds of the sale.
This shows one congregation’s response to their belief in the movement of the Holy Spirit for them and their community. Through the wonderings of the APC session of how best to utilize its gift of property to the glory of God, praying with and discerning with the congregation, and stepping out into the community to hear the stories and needs of the members of the surrounding community, the dream of providing affordable housing in South Arlington was realized, building together one step at a time.
May we continue to listen and pray for God’s intentions to be manifested in our congregation and community.
If you are interested in learning more, you can watch this 8 minute video on Arlington Presbyterian Church’s website about their journey… https://incairnation.org/imagine/
Comments