The Park Church Co-op (129 Russell St), Greenpoint’s coolest church, is facing closure after losing funding from the Metropolitan New York Synod last June. In a letter dated August 15th and posted on social media on Monday, the Greenpoint church asks for the community’s help in a call for letters that detail the church’s local impact. Donations can also be made here.
Park Church Co-op hosts music performances, yoga sessions and great community programming in addition to their Sunday service. The church states their plan to hand-deliver the community’s letters of support to Synod Council members at the upcoming September 5th meeting.
A Park Church Co-op employee sent Greenpointers the following statement:
The Park Church Coop already stopped receiving grant funding from the Metropolitan New York Synod this past June and so all we have right now is an extension to simply stay in the building through June of 2020. We would have been asked to leave the building sooner (as soon as October yikes!) except a few of us protested that it would disrupt the homeless shelter and children’s programming to cut it off midseason.
This year, and if we plan to stay open, we will be expected to pay all our own expenses including utilities, building upkeep and Pastor’s salary. We currently function off donations and money made off building use. Showing we can continue to generate our own stream of income and stay afloat as a congregation sans the additional grant funding from MNYS will affect the Synod’s decision to allow us to keep going.
Read the full letter here from Park Church Co-op here:
Hello friend and Neighbors!
The purpose of this letter is to notify the community of the potential closing of the Park Church Co-op at 129 Russell Street at the end of 2020 and to inform our neighbors of what they can do to affect this decision. After a 9 month extension, the Park Church Co-op has ceased to receive funding from the Metropolitan New York Synod. The core community members of Park Church have submitted a business plan to the MNYS showing how we an independent, autonomous congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in the MNYS. This plan means that we can keep outdoors open for Sunday worship as well as provide much needed humanitarian, educational and arts programming for North Brooklyn. Without this autonomous status, the building will likely be sold/re-developed.
Our business plan will be presented at a SEPTEMBER 5TH Synod Council meeting. It is imperative that ahead of this meeting our neighbors speak out for the vibrancy, necessity and religious faith in Chrisy growing on Russell Street. With your help, we anticipate a positive vote on the change of status at the full synod council meeting on September 21st.
Important points to highlight:
1) How being part of the Park Church Co-op has strengthened or awakened your faith in God and how this community of faith has made a positive change in the neighborhood and larger community.
2) Your support for the change of status and how you plan to concretely participate in the ongoing ministry of Park Church Co-op.
3) The beauty and significance of the building that houses our work.
4) The impact that PArk Church Co-op’s programming has made on families homeless, LGBTQ community musicians, artists and any other friends who have shared this space.
You may send your letters of support to:
Attn: Bishop Egensteiner
Metropolitan New York Synod
475 Riverside Drive
#1620
New York, NY
110115Please email a copy of your letter to [email protected] and we will print the letters to hand deliver to additional Synod Council members at the September 5th meeting.
With Grace,
The Park Church Co-op Core Leadership Team
Should be converted into library or community center.