Faith Missions and Church Redevelopment in Ottawa, Ontario

• Published in: Canadian journal of urban research 2016-06, Vol.25 (1), p.80-87
• Main Authors: Martin, Gary, Ballamingie, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activism; Affordable housing; Aging; Anglican churches; Buildings; Case studies; Church; Church congregations; Churches; Cities; Critical Research Note; Denominations; Ecological sustainability; Environmental conditions; Faith; Green buildings; Homeless people; Housing; Initiatives; Methods; Mission stations; Missions; Missions (Religion); Neighborhoods; Planners; Property; Public housing; Redevelopment; REITs; Religious aspects; Religious buildings; Religious congregations; Social aspects; Social justice; Spirituality; Sustainability; Sustainable cities; Trends; Urban planning
• ISSN: 1188-3774; 2371-0292

In certain Christian denominations in North America, as church officials cope with shrinking and aging congregations, opportunities to repurpose church properties have come to the fore. Understood within an urban planning context, churches provide solutions to challenges faced by municipal sustainability planners, infill developers, and social housing providers. The following commentary focuses on Anglican and United Church activists in Ottawa, Ontario and their accomplishments in drawing attention to the possibilities for simultaneously rejuvenating churches, congregations and neighbourhoods. This paper spotlights an emerging social phenomenon: faith-based redevelopment of urban church properties, a topic not yet fully explored in the academic literature. Dans certaines confessions chrétiennes en Amérique du Nord, comme responsables de l'église face à la diminution et le vieillissement des congrégations, les possibilités de réutiliser les propriétés de l'église ont pris de l'importance. Compris dans un contexte de planification urbaine, les églises offrent des solutions aux défis auxquels font face les planificateurs municipaux de développement durable, les développeurs de remplissage, et les fournisseurs de logements sociaux. Le commentaire qui suit met l'accent sur les réalisations des activistes de l'Église Anglicane et Unie à Ottawa, en attirant l'attention aux possibilités de simultanément rajeunir les églises, les congrégations et les quartiers. Cet article met en lumière un phénomène social émergent: réaménagement basé sur la foi de propriétés de l›église urbaines, un sujet qui n'est pas encore totalement exploré dans la littérature académique.