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Harlem Churches Losing Congregations
By
Jaya Saxena
Published May 24, 2010
Modified May 24, 2010
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published May 24, 2010
Modified May 24, 2010
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Whereas once it was difficult to find a seat on Sunday in many Harlem churches, ministers and patrons alike are worried that many churches are in danger of losing members. Locals say younger people aren't as eager to go to church, and the core members are either dying or moving away to retire, leaving donation trays empty. All Souls member Raymond Stevens told the Times, "It puts a lot of pressure on the congregation because you have to dig deep into your pockets to keep the church open." The Times also blames New York's favorite culprit, gentrification, but we're sure more young people would start coming if they'd just start building bigger steeples.
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