How should one approach the task of selling the House of God ?
The Synagogue and the Ark, the Church and the steeple, the Mosque with the minaret.
Usually, once the board of directors, or the congregation, has decided to part with their place of worship a variety of factors have influenced the decision to sell beforehand. The most important of these is the need to relocate because the property has outgrown it's usefulness to the congregation because of age, or perhaps the sanctuary is just not large enough to accommodate a growing membership.
The place of worship is a sacred place and will hold very personal meanings to all of the members assigned the task of making the decision to part with it.
A very sensitive issue to contend with, once the decision to sell has been made, is the question of who is going to occupy the facility once the congregation has moved ?
Must the building continue to be used in service to the Lord, or can it be used for other things at this point, such as converting the property for commercial use such as a shopping center or a school ?
It is important that the congegation hire a broker with experience in the sale of the house of worship.
In some cases, a congregation will have to lease a place temporarily if they're building a new facility and, at the same time, trying to sell the old one. An experienced broker will retain a specialized awareness of title issues and other legal concerns and understand when legal matters should be reviewed by an attorney if transference of the property or other problems involving the land might become an issue.
What are your experiences with the house of worship ?
I've included some music for you for on this "Quiet Day". Hope you enjoy it.
I have sold three church properties (three different denominations - none of which I personally belonged) and I found it no different than any other commercial deal. As an independent broker, I kept things upbeat/professional and never got involved in the church politics. Yes, the board of directors or church administrator approved the listing/sale agreements. A good buyer for a church property is another church, so keep that in mind.
We had an historic Methodist church sell in our seaside community. It was an emotional issue for the congregation, as change in a church often is. The church plant eventually sold to someone who converted the education/office wing into a mall with boutiques, the fellowship hall into a restaurant and the sanctuary into a live theater. On the congregation's final day in the church as a house of worship, a service was held to desanctify the sanctuary, thus converting it from sacred to secular use. The church had a parade from the old site to the new, with a horse-drawn wagon carrying a meaningful object (perhaps the church's original organ?--I can't remember exactly) that was then installed in their spanking, new building. I thought it was all handled with as much dignity and consideration of long-time members' feelings as well as respect for God's place in the whole matter, as possible.
Great comment, Dianne. The desanctification ceremony must have provided the congregation with a fitting tribute as well as a healing and guiltless measure of release from the obligations associated with the former uses of the great old church. I'm very happy to hear from you.
thanks, David. I believe it did. I haven't been to the "new" complex yet, but everyone who has been to the restaurant and/or theater have really enjoyed it, and the Methodist congregation is thriving in their new, larger space. Good news all around.
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Wow I can't remember the last time I saw you write a post that allowed for comments.........cool...welcome back :-)