What a Dying Church Can Still Teach Us

A few months ago, I sat across the screen from Dr. Will Willimon—Methodist bishop, Duke Divinity professor, and author of more books than I can count. What I thought would be a conversation about aging congregations quickly became something deeper, something more hopeful.

Willimon said something I’ll never forget: “Jesus didn’t get to age—but we do. And that’s a gift.”

For so many churches facing the end—down to a handful of members, aging out of volunteerism, or just trying to keep the lights on—we often talk about “decline” like it’s a failure. Willimon reframed it completely. He compared a dying congregation to a dying friend. What do you do? You sit with them. You tell the truth. You honor their life. And if you’re lucky, you help them give one final gift before they go.

He shared stories of congregations handing over their church buildings to immigrant communities, skateboarding youth groups, and startup ministries. Not clinging, but releasing. Not grieving without hope, but believing that resurrection follows endings.

It’s made me wonder—what if our churches were just as faithful in death as they were in life?

If you’re part of a church that’s aging, shrinking, or even closing, this episode is for you. It’s not a funeral. It’s a moment to remember what the Church is: not a building, not a brand, but a people led by Jesus into life, death, and resurrection.

Listen in. Share with someone who needs this word today.
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