Ormond’s inaugural Church & Community Placemaking Lab launched on March 4, 2023 and will continue through September 2023. The Lab experience will include monthly cohort-wide Zoom calls, a field trip in May to learn from several churches who have successfully repurposed their property for social impact, and an in-person closing celebration. Along the way, churches will receive access to discernment practices, site analyses, and feasibility services. Additionally, community engagement tools will be offered to help church groups refine their redevelopment plans.

During the March 4th kickoff, we welcomed a cohort of six North Carolina congregations from across the state to officially launch the Lab. It was an abundant day filled with in-person learning and warmth as we explored how to reimagine the use of church properties to more fully love our neighbors. The event included a panel discussion, guided conversations around the promises and assets associated with each group’s unique place, and instruction on translating ideas into impactful action.

The work of the Lab is guided by the Ormond Center’s distinct educational philosophy, outlined below. Our Educational Philosophy:

We learn from each other’s experiences
We learn by doing
We emphasize stories
We facilitate connection
We practice hospitality

Our cohort of placemakers include:

All Saints Episcopal Church, Warrenton NC

Central United Methodist Church, Asheville NC
First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro NC
First Presbyterian Church, Kinston NC
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Greensboro NC
Macedonia United Methodist Church, Cary NC

Reflections from the Lab

Gin Reid Hall

Holy Spirit Episcopal Church of Greensboro

Gin Reid Hall, a career church professional with 25 years of experience, shared her enthusiasm for the Lab's work and the potential it holds for communities.

Gin Reid cited Jeremiah 29:7, which urges people to seek the shalom, or health and wholeness, of the city where they live. She sees the Placemaking Lab experience as an essential part of the church's vocational outreach and a way to care for people at different stages of their lives. This is especially important when Gin Reid considers the challenges facing her community, including affordable housing and access to health care.

The Lab's kickoff event, held on March 4th, was described as energizing and encouraging. Gin Reid appreciated the opportunity to hear from a variety of people and communities and to learn from their experiences. The idea of "emergent change" was seen as particularly active and exciting, as plans for community engagement and development will be shaped by the needs and interests of local people.

Gin Reid is hopeful and excited for the journey ahead, thanks to the sense of community and support provided by the Lab and the Ormond Center. She also looks forward to the opportunity to be led by concrete and spiritual guidance navigating the process of reimagining the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church community’s property.

“What an amazing thing to do to support communities in reimagining themselves - especially in helping the world become more welcoming.”

The Placemaking Lab provides a platform for communities to come together and re-imagine the use of church properties to better love their neighbors. The initiative aims to simplify core values, address community challenges, and support emergent change that responds to contextual needs and interests.

Paula Pierce

First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro

Growing up, Paula Pierce watched her parents act on the call to “love thou neighbor” and has lived her life trying to do the same. When Paula learned of the Placemaking Lab, she was drawn to the opportunity to reimagine the use of church property to fill the gaps and meet the challenges her community faced.

Working to address community challenges isn’t new for Paula. She has been working with a non-profit since 2017 to address homelessness and affordable housing in her community. To date, those efforts have resulted in the construction of 16 tiny homes to provide affordable rental housing. With the Placemaking Lab, Paula sees an opportunity for churches to become more involved in these efforts and collaborate with other organizations to make a difference.

“To me, this seems to be the right time for churches to reimagine and repurpose their properties and become a part of community conversations and efforts.”

One of the key takeaways from the kickoff event on March 4th was the ability to meet and hear from other cohort members. This was an inspiring experience for Paula, who sees the potential for collaboration between city leadership, non-profits, private organizations, and faith-based communities. By working together, she believes they can successfully address many of the community gaps and challenges they face.

Paula's hope for the cohort journey ahead is that it will bring about more collaborative involvement and help churches become a part of community conversations and efforts to address the housing crisis. She is excited about the potential for what they can accomplish together and the opportunity to reimagine and repurpose church properties in ways that better serve the needs of their neighbors.

The Placemaking Lab is an excellent example of how communities can come together to address challenges and promote shalom. By repurposing church properties and working collaboratively with other organizations, they can create affordable housing, provide supportive rental housing, and fill other important gaps in the community. The initiative is a reminder that, by working together, we can make a positive impact on the world around us.

Virginia Broach

All Saints Episcopal Church of Warrenton

When Virginia Broach was asked what it means for her community to reimagine the use of church properties to more fully love our neighbors, she looked back to those she served. “I’m from a place where it should be of the people and free to the people for use,” Virginia said, “It means opening the church fully and without cost to the community.”

The Church & Community Placemaking Lab will help Virginia and her congregation address challenges in the Warrenton, NC community. These challenges include declining church attendance and reduced interest in the church among youth. Virginia hopes that, with the guidance offered by the Lab, she can work with her congregation to engage younger individuals – a population not well represented right now. However, All Saints isn’t the only church facing declining populations. Virginia shared that the ministerial alliance in Warrenton reported that all churches in the area face similar challenges.

“My hope level is raised in community with others.”

Virginia cited group connection as one of her favorite parts about the kickoff event on March 4th. The diversity of the participants and the shared feeling of support and connection brings hope for all that the Lab experience will bring.

Reflections from Members of the Church & Community Placemaking Lab