A Study of Multiple Congregations under One Steeple
Hartley, Loyde
Lancaster Theological Seminary
2020
121
D.Min.
Lancaster Theological Seminary
2020
This project explores how the practice of two or more Christian congregations sharing a single facility impacts the participating congregations' understanding of mission and ministry. How has the sharing experience, perhaps in surprising ways, affected the faith journeys of the congregations involved in facility-sharing? Through interviews, pastors and lay leaders of congregations involved in facility-sharing outline mission priorities of the participating congregations before and after beginning facility-sharing. Other data, such as details of preliminary agreements, interaction between/among groups, shared events and/or outreach, as well as financial benefits and liabilities for congregations sharing a facility, are collected and analyzed with an eye toward how this information reflects mission priorities and shifts in understanding of mission and ministry. This study is a qualitative accounting of congregations involved in facility-sharing in the region of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, based on a compilation of stories about their current experiences with facility-sharing.