This article appears on Presbyterian Outlook with the permission of the Presbyterian News Service. The Outlook has a paywall to help fund our independent journalism. If our paywall prevents you from reading the full story, you can read it freely at pcusa.org/news.
Spokane, Washington — Bethany Presbyterian Church had been considering utilizing a portion of its building as affordable housing for newly arrived immigrants in Spokane. Then, a fire on Epiphany Sunday 2022 changed everything.
In this video feature, church members and the former interim pastor talk about the journey from the ashes to deciding to completely change the church property to provide much more housing and a church space scaled to the small congregation’s needs.
Bethany is one of a number of congregations in the Spokane area considering how it can use its property to benefit the community. Read and watch how the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest is using a Lilly Endowment grant to fund the Ezra 3 Project, which is helping churches discern a more financially resilient and community-centered future.
And watch an interview with the Land Stewardship Guide for the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest to learn more about how churches can consider using their land and property.
