FEATURE STORY
A Friend(s Group) Indeed
Friends of Trinity Cathedral
in Miami, FL, hosts an annual
silent auction and gala to raise
funds for restoration projects
at the 1925 cathedral.
A leaking roof. Crumbling masonry. Deteriorating
stained glass windows. An outdated (or nonexistent)
fire suppression system. The list of concerns for
stewards of older buildings can be daunting, especially
when the steward is a congregation that struggles to
balance its mission to the community with the care of
its sacred place. What’s a congregation to do when it is
unable to raise funds for repair costs, when members
have given all they can? Partners for Sacred Places’
intensive training program, New Dollars/New Partners
for Your Sacred Place, shows congregations how to
articulate their public value and look beyond their walls
for potential sources of funds.
One powerful tool advocated in the training – which
any sacred place can take advantage of – is the creation
of a friends group to engage individuals from outside
the immediate congregational community and garner
support for the building’s preservation. A group of
interested individuals can be organized to support the
preservation and revitalization of a sacred space. It
should include members of the congregation and the
congregation’s staff, as well as community members,
civic leaders, and any party invested in your building.
15 • Sacred Places • www.sacredplaces.org • Fall 2011
The friends group extends the limited capacity of
the congregation and staff to reach out to the greater
community to seek assistance and raise funds, and raise
awareness in the community at large.
Organizing such a support group does not have
to be a daunting task. It can be as straightforward
as convening individuals who are committed to
keeping the congregation and its facilities as vital
community assets. They can be local residents who
see your building as an anchor in their neighborhood
or architecture enthusiasts who understand the
importance of your building. Success depends on
getting out in the community, articulating the worth of
the building and the services it provides, and finding
ways to connect with previously unknown resources.
Friends groups generally attract the attention و [