Their building sold, but their church didn’t die: Joy permeates a congregation’s future

If you told Emily Perl that her faith journey would become more alive and more energetic after the church she attended for almost three decades sold its building, she probably wouldn’t have believed you.

But “more alive” and “more energetic” are how Perl describes the vibe at First and St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Towson, Maryland, which was founded in 1750, making it the second oldest Protestant church in the Baltimore area.

Every Sunday, a remnant of a once enviable membership roll continues to meet in the Baltimore suburb. In fact, the 20 faithful souls gather in the very same building that was sold this past February to a local resident for $1.1 million.

An agreement was drawn by lawyers allowing First and St. Stephen’s UCC to use the facilities on Sundays till 1:30 p.m., as well as Thursday nights and one Tuesday a month.

“We have a very good relationship with the buyer who is allowing us to use the building for free till this September,” said Perl, who serves at consistory president of First and St. Stephen’s.

The surviving congregation is currently exploring viable relocation options, including several nearby houses of worship that have generously offered space. Of course, the possibility of leasing space in the very building they sold has not been ruled out in the future.  “We would like to stay in the community,” Perl added.

It has been reported in several Baltimore media outlets that the buyer, Steven McIntire, has plans to flip the parsonage. He then hopes to secure non-profit organizations as new buyers so that the sprawling, 16,000-square-foot stone gothic campus returns to the community.

It was this community-minded vision that won the hearts of the congregation over that of a much-higher bid from a local strip mall developer.

“Knowing that the campus would be used for the needs in the community was much more important than the money being offered,” said Perl.

A faithful, realistic approach  

Like many churches seeing once-full sanctuaries emptying, First and St. Stephen’s had hoped to keep the death knell from tolling.

A “huge” endowment received in the 1990s had given them a reprieve as well as a glimmer of hope, noted Perl. But rather than following the 5% endowment rule followed by most institutions, First and St. Stephen’s was spending up to 30% yearly.

Two camps soon emerged within the congregation: The realists and the optimists. The realists could see the writing on the writing sanctuary wall, while the optimists, said Perl, kept hoping for an influx of new members to fill the pews and grants to fill the coffers.  

“The realists eventually won,” said Perl.

Realizing the church would run out of money by the end of 2025, the realists got proactive. Staff was eliminated, including the pastor’s position, and the building was readied to be put on the market. During this difficult decision-making time, many members chose to leave. But the few who stayed didn’t hear the funeral dirge wafting through the emptying halls. Rather, they chose to listen for the glorious alleluias over the new thing God was doing.

“People have stepped up. Everyone is doing something to keep the church alive,” said Perl.

Without pastoral leadership, First and St. Stephen’s relies on laity to give the Sunday message. People are invited to preach, said Perl, with the caveat that it doesn’t have to look or feel like a traditional sermon.

 “They have the freedom to craft it anyway they want,” said Perl.

While there are two pastors among the 20 members, Perl is mindful not to rely on their preaching prowess.

“We want to make sure others step up and give the message,” she said.

Worship happens every other Sunday, with the alternate Sundays designated for a time of Christian education. As creatures of habit, Perl chuckles that members will still where they have always sat in the church, but now “we actually talk to each other.”

And the conversations are filling the empty spaced among them with a spirit of joy and of new possibilities. First and St. Stephen’s has recently hired back their music director part time. They are also currently preparing a budget for the coming year.

“Honestly, we feel we are having a good time. We have been freed of obligations. We don’t have a building to worry about anymore,” said Perl, who captured the very essence of faith when she said, “We are living moment by moment. And we are okay with that.”

---

Content on ucc.org is copyrighted by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ and may be only shared according to the guidelines outlined here.