A Florida Baptist church that has been embroiled in three years of internal controversy has been suspended from membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability pending a review of compliance with membership standards. ECFA is a nonprofit organization open…
Faced with a tech boom across the street, South Main Baptist Church invests in planning
The real estate value of a church’s land is usually irrelevant. There’s no property tax, and unless a church is ready to sell its land, the fluctuations in value over the years don’t matter much. Until the property becomes too…
Georgia Baptist Mission Board to vacate property and move into a local church
One of the largest state conventions affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention has reduced its staff to such a level that it’s moving to office space in a local church. Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board,…
Land deals have been part of Southwestern Seminary’s story from the beginning
Real estate has been at the heart of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s story from the beginning and now once again could offer a financial lifeline. Faced with an unspecified but clearly significant financial problem, the Fort Worth, Texas, seminary has…
Before you make church property decisions, consider your mission and calling
Congregations must put faith and calling before revenue when contemplating renting, leasing or selling church property in response to declines in giving and attendance, said Dominic Dutra, author of Closing Costs: Reimagining Church Real Estate for Missional Purposes. Church leaders…
Southwestern trustee chairman addresses president’s departure; seminary may sell more land
The chairman of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s trustees made his first public statements about the resignation of former President Adam Greenway Oct. 18, citing “dysfunctionality amongst senior leadership” and financial mismanagement among issues of concern. The board also was told…
Southwestern Seminary lists 24-acre parcel for sale
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has listed for sale a student housing village that encompasses nearly 24 acres of prime multi-housing real estate currently appraised at more than $11 million. Carroll Park apartments encompasses 184 one- and two-bedroom units arrayed in…
Georgia Baptists hit snag on sale of 16-year-old headquarters property in suburban Atlanta
A state Baptist convention’s planned sale of its multi-million-dollar office building has hit a snag with county zoning officials. The Georgia Baptist Mission Board needs to sell its 40-acre property located in Gwinnett County, Ga., and it has a buyer…
Lifeway’s new headquarters is much smaller, designed for collaboration, not offices
In the span of six years, Lifeway Christian Resources has downsized its headquarters twice, moving from a 15-acre campus with nine buildings to its newest intended location that will be 46,000 square feet — about the size of an average…