How Do We Choose Hope at This Crossroads of Doubt?

Peoples Church has always been an experiment—a living, breathing attempt to create a liberal religious community in eastern Iowa. For 150 years, our faith community has been exploring how to lead compassionate lives, grow spiritually, and act for justice in a changing world. Now, we’re at another crossroads, and though it’s not the first one our church has faced, it’s still a big one.

Cultural shifts, financial challenges, and the realities of an aging membership mean that continuing “as is” isn’t sustainable. If we keep going exactly as we are, we risk fading away. But if we choose hope—if we lean into creativity and courage—we can write the next chapter of this ongoing experiment together and ensure it continues for the next 150 years.

Our proposed 2026 budget reflects that choice. Yes, it includes a deficit. But that deficit isn’t about fear—it’s about our values. We’re investing in staff because their leadership matters. We’re funding programs that nurture spiritual growth and multigenerational connection. We’re committing to justice by sustaining ministries that make a difference. In short, our budget signals that we will not retreat from our mission to lead compassionate lives through spiritual growth and just action.

Yet choosing hope means much more than approving a budget. It also means asking: What kind of church do we want to be in the future? And then taking steps to find out. This isn’t about endless talk—it’s about turning ideas into experiments.

What might that look like?

• Hosting community meals or small-group gatherings to combat loneliness.

• Partnering with local organizations to support at-risk populations, such as LGBTQ+ youth or immigrants.

• Creating new ways for all ages to connect and learn together.

These aren’t abstract conversations; they’re real actions we can try, learn from, and adapt. That’s how an experiment works: by testing possibilities, celebrating successes, and learning from every outcome.

So here’s the invitation: Share your creativity, hopes, and ideals to help continue the experiment of Peoples Church. Let’s move from scarcity to possibility together by shaping the ministries that will carry us into the next decade and beyond. And in that way, ensure that this community remains a home of love, justice, and spiritual depth for years to come.

So may it be.