Aging congregation, demographics, force church members to face an uncertain future

By peter korn
The Portland Tribune
Jan 14, 2010

There is no hospice for congregations facing the end of their days. No advanced directives telling caregivers when to take action and when to let go.

Dying people make out wills to direct the inheritance of their remaining possessions, but there is no legal equivalent for a dying church. Jewish tradition directs fathers to write ethical wills that explain the values by which they have led their lives, to be read by their children after they pass.

But when a church dies, there is no one left to do the reading. the rest