March 28, 2012 | 9:32 AM | By

How Longtime Black Churches Adapt To Gentrification

A number of longtime black churches in D.C. are smack-dab in the middle of rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, such as John Wesley AME Zion on 14th Street NW. Many parishioners are older or no longer live in D.C., while many new neighbors are young and white.

But rather than fight the changes in their neighborhoods, some church leaders are exploring ways to remain relevant, The Washington Post reports. Wesley wants to rent its facilities for banquets and wedding rentals, and maybe even host jazz nights to attract new, mostly white, neighbors.


Terry Lynch, head of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, said strong pastoral leadership is also crucial for “reaching out and embracing’’ new residents and new realities.

It often isn’t easy. Wesley says its new neighbors are welcome, but some recent arrivals complain about how church members double-park outside the church on Sunday mornings, or about how tough it is to get alcohol licenses for new restaurants. [Church member Clennie] Murphy said the church’s relationship with its new neighbors is improving. But so far, the recruits haven’t really materialized.

Read more at: www.washingtonpost.com

  • formerdcrez

    In our experience in Brookland, “adapting” meant expecting new families with young children to join, provide need resources and volunteer labor but expect to have no attempt made to meet their needs. Requests for seemingly obvious accommodations like a nursery were met with hostility and accusations that “we” were trying to take over the church and make it “white.”  I understand that fear of losing their identity as a black church can make people hyper-sensitive to any kind of change, but you can’t then be surprised if new neighbors do not feel welcome.