Diocese Sells Headquarters In Radical Move
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia has announced plans to sell its current office and relocate to a former church building due to various challenges, including the high costs associated with maintaining its existing headquarters. Bishop Frank Logue recently shared with the diocese that the sale of the office will clear all existing debt and provide over $1 million in funds to support the diocesan budget.
Logue informed the diocese that the Standing Committee has approved the decision to sell the Diocesan office located on 34th Street in Savannah and move to the former St. Michael and All Angels church building on Washington Avenue and Waters Avenue. St. Michael and All Angels, which closed in July 2023 following a vestry vote, had a significant burial site on its grounds, making the preservation of the location important. The new site will offer advantages such as more parking and improved meeting spaces, as well as continued support for existing local ministries, including a food pantry and community group meetings.
The move, according to Logue, aims to refocus resources on essential areas while reducing debt and increasing investments in both the diocesan board and community support. He views this transition as a significant step in advancing the Gospel and enhancing the diocese’s mission.
The Episcopal Church, like many other religious organizations in the U.S., has experienced a notable decline in membership and attendance in recent years. A report from last September highlighted that the church lost over 90,000 members in 2022, reducing its total membership to approximately 1.58 million, down from nearly 2 million in 2010. This decline has also led to diocesan mergers, as reported by Episcopal News Service, including the formation of the Diocese of Wisconsin, the Diocese of the Great Lakes, and the merger of the Micronesia area mission with the Diocese of Hawai’i. Discussions are ongoing regarding further mergers, such as between the dioceses of Central Pennsylvania and Bethlehem, and Indianapolis and Northern Indiana.