Partners for Sacred Places

 Partners for Sacred Places is a nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1989. Suzanne Yowell is one of the dedicated employees of this organization. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited, to finding solutions for unused or under-used sacred places. There are a lot of congregations, including some located in Fort Worth area, which possess huge buildings but do not utilize those buildings to their full capacity.

http://www.sacredplaces.org/

 

 Suzanne Yowell believes that churches play an important role in our communities. Many congregations have been actively involved in promoting community development by supporting different kinds of public programs in church buildings. However, she says, that many cultural and social organizations need to find reasonably priced homes to be able to function. Thus, these nonprofit organizations are interested in unused or under-used church spaces.

http://www.sacredplaces.org

 

 At the same time, many congregations struggle to manage the high cost associated with running big buildings. Therefore, Suzanne Yowell also attempts to help churches by connecting them to a potential leaser or renter. She thinks that leasing unused space in the church may improve the economic situation for that church.   

Personally, I do not mind when congregations lease their building to other businesses. Though, I think leasing should be limited to nonprofit organizations. I have hard time imagining a church and a bar located in one building.  But I could see a church and a dental clinic sharing one building.