Stewardship of Sacred Spaces: A Seminary Curriculum on Faith and Property

Bricks and Mortals’ Sustainable Solutions for Sacred Sites program led to the creation of a seminary course that explores the theology of hospitality, property, and sustainability. The course invites future leaders to connect theology with the real decisions they will face in ministry.

One of the most important questions facing theological education today is this: How do faith leaders care for their sacred spaces in a world that is constantly changing?

Congregations operate amid shifting demographics, rising property costs, and evolving community needs. These challenges aren’t just about buildings or money. They raise deep questions about faith, values, and responsibility.

The course draws from multifaith voices, each offering insight into what it means to receive land as both gift and responsibility. From the Hebrew Scriptures’ vision of Jubilee, the Qur’anic call to balance human use with divine trust, the Indigenous reverence for land as ancestor, and the Christian confession of the Word made flesh who “dwelt among us,” students discover that sacred space is not owned, but held in covenant.

The course asks seminarians to practice spiritual discernment as they consider how their ministries can reflect hospitality and justice through thoughtful use of property. As part of the development process, Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen, Ph.D. gathered feedback from more than fifty peer reviewers, including pastors, theologians, architects, developers, and community leaders. Their collective insights shaped three expressions of this work: a foundational seminary syllabus, a Doctor of Ministry concentration for advanced study, and a continuing education course for working pastors seeking renewal in stewardship.

What began as a syllabus continues to evolve into a living conversation about how sacred spaces are a sign of God’s liberating presence. This work is designed to support seminaries nationwide, helping to form leaders who see caring for sacred space as an act of faith, service, and witness.

Below are the links to the seminary curriculum:

Doctor of Ministry – Sacred Space and Stewardship

Continuing Education Course – Sacred Space Practical Faith

Syllabus – Sacred Space and Stewardship: Multifaith Ethics and Real Estate for Ministry