skip to content
subscribe on Apple Podcasts subscribe on Spotify Podcasts subscribe on YouTube

Season 13: Church Property: Imagining Good Futures | Episode 2

Why Are We Talking About Church Property?

Overview

This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon are taking over the Igniting Imagination Podcast! They’re joined by Bob Smietana, National Reporter for Religion News Service and author, to dive into this season’s theme: “Properties with New Purpose.”

As we've been partnering with churches across the country, many questions have come up. This week’s episode centers on one of the big ones: “What brought us here?”

Bob points out that churches hold essential skills, like moral guidance and community-building, which are increasingly valuable in today’s world. Together, Shannon, Mark, and Bob encourage congregations to reimagine their spaces and embrace creativity and collaboration to shape their future impact on the community.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Church property is being reimagined to better serve communities in innovative ways.

  • Declines in church attendance require congregations to adapt and find new purposes.

  • Many churches are collaborating with local organizations to provide essential community services.

  • The shift from traditional church models to multiuse spaces is gaining momentum.

  • Local churches must foster relationships and trust to thrive in changing contexts.

  • Embracing change can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth and community building.

Meet Our Guest

Rahel Billups

Bob Smietana

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion, and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.

Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, senior editor of Christianity Today, religion writer at The Tennessean, correspondent for RNS and contributor to OnFaith, USA Today and The Washington Post. He is best known for his coverage of Islam and Islamophobia, including his comprehensive reporting on the Murfreesboro mosque conflict, and of evangelical Christianity, including the emotional journey of Pearl Joy Brown’s family as well as the Willow Creek Community Church scandal.

Show Notes

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion, and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.

Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, senior editor of Christianity Today, religion writer at The Tennessean, correspondent for RNS and contributor to OnFaith, USA Today and The Washington Post. He is best known for his coverage of Islam and Islamophobia, including his comprehensive reporting on the Murfreesboro mosque conflict, and of evangelical Christianity, including the emotional journey of Pearl Joy Brown’s family as well as the Willow Creek Community Church scandal.

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

Next Steps

Subscribe

Subscribe for inspiration and insights for your life and ministry. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic.

Leave a Review

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review? It increases our rankings and helps us to reach more people all over the world.

Apple Reviews Apple reviews  

More From Season 13: Church Property: Imagining Good Futures

Episode 3

How Does Theology Shape Church Property Decisions?

With Dr. Willie James Jennings

Episode 1

Church Property: Imagining Good Futures

With Shannon Hopkins