Our Work

Empowering congregations to develop or enhance their mission through the strategic, resourceful, and creative use of their buildings.

Living in the Past

"One thing that tells me a company is in trouble is when they tell me how good they were in the past. Same with countries. You don't want to forget your identity. I'm glad you were great in the fourteenth century, but that was then and this is now. When memories exceed dreams, the end is near. The hallmark of a truly successful organization is the willingness to abandon what made it successful and start fresh."

Michael Hammer, The World is Flat

We are really proud of our history, but we are more focused on the future.

The ECBF of Today and for the Future

Like most institutions, the Building Fund needed to change. Or fade out. We decided to change and make our mission more flexible to help congregations address the overwhelming issues surrounding their buildings. One of the most significant dilemmas in the church today is deferred maintenance and the inability of parishes, often the smaller ones, to financially support a physical structure.

Fifty-three percent of our churches have an average Sunday attendance of less than 70 people, and it is difficult for the pledges, even the most generous, of 70 people to support both building and clergy. In a recent 10-year period, 519 churches were closed for good due to an inability to financially support the structure. This trend is expected to accelerate over the next decade. The drain on financial and human resources, and distraction from mission, will become even more significant.

The bottom line? Our energies will be tied up in supporting a structure, not in supporting the Kingdom.

Five pathways to help you find solutions:

1. The ECBF offers non-mortgage loans for building construction, renovation, and maintenance to Episcopal congregations and organizations, including church buildings, schools, rectories, diocesan camps and properties, and for land purchase. Our unique loan, not found in the general market, meets many needs. We partner and help you plan the project, and fill a gap when evidence of church investment is required or when commercial terms are unfavorable. And, the ECBF revolving loan fund invests back into the Episcopal Church. Congregations planning to recast their property as an income source can apply to the Micro-Loans program for a special low 3% interest rate.

2. Buildings for a New Tomorrow is a symposium designed to change your mind. We offer this event to bring you information, inspiration, and hope. You will find innovative ideas from forward-thinking church colleagues, successful businesses and creative non-profits. This is a forum for finding and sharing new ways of doing church, developing revenue generation for our buildings, and connecting to the wider community. It's just not business as usual. If you go to one church event this year, make it this one.

3. Is thinking about your building keeping you awake at night? Consider participating in the Re-Casting of Building Assets consultation process. This process has helped parishes to reinvent themselves, and their buildings, by focusing on being self-sustaining and using their buildings in new and really creative ways.

4. We offer the following publications:

A Congregational Planning Process - Building Planning Guide which is a planning workbook for congregations embarking on a building project.

Churches for Common Prayer, Building for the Liturgical Assembly DVD/video is a tour of two church buildings which depict good liturgical design.

5. The ECBF is developing a web-based platform to bring voices from across the country to work cooperatively to solve building dilemmas and share innovations. Our role will be as the catalyst for the change we must have if our church is to survive. We want to listen to, and share, your ideas to make our community of church better. Look for news of this soon on our site. In the meantime, if you have ideas, send them to Julia M. Groom-Thompson.

ECBF History – It's long and we are proud!

The ECBF was founded by a group of bishops in 1880 to respond to the expansion of the Episcopal Church throughout the United States and subsequent church building projects. A revolving fund was established through individual and diocesan gifts. ECBF loans have met a variety of needs over the years. Early on, and continuing in some areas, churches were viewed as high-risk customers. Church-based funding has been critical when bank terms are unfavorable, unavailable, or when evidence of church investment is required. Since its founding, the ECBF has been autonomous and self-supporting. It receives no operating funds from the General Convention or other church sources. Operating costs are covered through the interest earned in building loans and investments. Growth of the revolving loan fund continues to rely on contributions and investments. The ECBF is a non-profit governed by an independent board of trustees comprised of bishops, clergy, and laity.