CORRECTION: A earlier model of this story misstated the situation of Backyard Memorial Presbyterian Church. The church is situated in Washington, D.C.’s southeast quadrant.
The members of a Southeast Washington Presbyterian congregation are praying and preserving the religion although the leaders of their church voted to shut their constructing, which is in despair and hasn’t been used for the reason that onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They’re making an attempt to take the church as a result of they wish to promote our constructing,” stated Carolyn Johns Grey, 81, a longtime member of Backyard Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southeast. “We’re a blended racial church. We don’t flip anybody away however they wish to promote our constructing.”
Grey, who joined Backyard Memorial in 1989, stated Backyard Memorial had a robust membership and daycare heart however the congregation has dwindled to about 15 members.
In September 2022, Nationwide Capital Presbytery (NCP) officers, the governing physique of Presbyterian congregations within the Washington space, appointed an Administrative Fee “to imagine authentic jurisdiction and act because the session for Backyard Memorial Presbyterian Church to evaluate the vitality of the congregation.”
Nonetheless, on June 15, she received a letter from church leaders saying the church could be closing.
”The Administrative Fee held a gathering on June 5, 2023, and – after due deliberation and prayer – the Fee voted to dissolve Backyard Memorial Presbyterian Church,” the letter learn. “This motion was not taken evenly. It comes because the fruits of years of makes an attempt by NCP (Nationwide Capital Presbytery) representatives to work on quite a lot of actions to help the Church, together with paying overdue property taxes, offering illustration on particular authorized points, facilitating entry to short-term said provide, and offering recommendation and counseling on doable initiatives with Church leaders who have been prepared to have interaction. “
The Rockville-based NCP defined that for months the Administrative Fee made varied efforts to achieve out to members of the Church and discern a path ahead. These efforts included conferences with congregational members, requests for church data, evaluation of church amenities, administration of utilities, and termination of a long-standing lease with a for-profit group.
In accordance with NCP paperwork, whereas just a few members have been prepared to have interaction with the Administrative Fee, others refused to cooperate or to offer the requested data needed to handle the wants of the Church.
In a letter to the NCP, Grey wrote, “I really feel that the Presbytery has violated our rights as a congregation.”
“That is recurring habits and it must cease. I’m not saying that we’re completely away from being a part of the place we’re in,” Grey continued. “We must be allowed to are likely to our personal enterprise with out being handled like we’re mismanaging our church.”
She defined the congregation was small, however would possibly.
“We’re a small congregation with huge hearts that manages to maintain our church afloat and assist in the neighborhood. We’re a household that believes within the Lord and the instructions of the Bible,” Grey wrote to the governing physique.
Between a scarcity of pastor and management, earlier tax and monetary challenges, and lack of warmth within the sanctuary and room beneath, which was used for receptions, the church was working into many difficulties.
“We have been not in a position to let anybody use the areas inflicting a monetary loss,” she defined.
Extra challenges confronted the Southeast church, Grey defined.
“The training constructing started to leak so we couldn’t make use of the Schooling constructing. The nursery stopped paying for its area and ultimately moved out. We tried a GoFundMe twice to no avail. In looking for giant donors, folks couldn’t perceive why the Presbytery… couldn’t handle its personal,” Grey shared. “Thus, we ran out of funds to pay payments, which resulted within the church being in disrepair and the taxes not being paid, particularly for the reason that nursery was the rationale for the taxes and the nursery was not paying. “
Grey stated she hoped the Presbyter’s involvement would have saved the church’s doorways open, versus the challenges Backyard Memorial presently faces.
“I actually suppose that had the Presbytery helped us with the boiler and honored its contract, we might not be the place we are actually,” she stated. “We by no means had an opportunity with the GoFundMe which might have been a hit had the general public recognized that we genuinely wanted the funds.”
Elder Lou Durden, chair of the Backyard Memorial Administrative Fee, addressed rumors that actions have been taken and choices made behind sure church members’ backs.
With the church’s shut lingering, Durden stated working with the congregation to greatest present pastoral care and assist with the transition is essential.
“We may help establish different church buildings within the space that is perhaps applicable for a switch of membership. We will conduct a respectful celebration of the ministry and mission of Backyard Memorial,” he defined. “We may help protect essential historic paperwork or artifacts of the church. The members of the Administrative Fee are additionally open to different cheap actions members would possibly request to ease the transition.”