New Prospect Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee had been discussing what to do with the wooded portion of its 15.7 acres.

“The woods had not been used for many years and we were not being good stewards for it not to be used,” said Beckie Thomas, then Clerk of Session.

Congregation members decided they wanted to donate that portion to nearby Ijams Nature Center, a nature protection and education nonprofit, to use for trails, children’s activities and more.

That kind of conservation was important to church members, said the Rev. Dr. Wendy Neff, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of East Tennessee.

More conversations and decisions

Before the congregation brought that request to presbytery, its part-time stated supply pastor decided to retire. That sparked additional conversations about sustainability.

“As we were in the process of donating the woods, it became evident that New Prospect Presbyterian Church could not continue as it had for 191 years,” Thomas said.

The session invited the presbytery to meet with them about dissolving. Neff already knew about the congregation’s desire to donate the wooded portion to Ijams Nature Center, but “it was in that meeting that I asked them what they hoped their legacy could be,” she recalled. “They said they’d love Ijams to have all of it if that was possible.

“The question we ask in these situations is: How can ministry continue to happen in this space, even if there’s not a worshiping congregation there?” Neff said.

Educating and nurturing youth was central to the church’s life, she said. Members had been involved in a tutoring program at a neighboring elementary school for years, and New Prospect’s recreation building had once been used for city youth programs. The stewardship of creation was important to church members, too.

Continuing the mission

“The session and the congregation wanted something that would continue their mission of serving the Lord,” Thomas said. “We saw that as providing for the betterment of children and their education and letting them have a place where they can play and have fun. Ijams could provide those opportunities.”

The administrative commission did its due diligence with the transition, Neff said, including investigating the feasibility of selling the land. However, the property’s location and the sloped and wooded portion made it less suitable for building.

At the same time, the church’s proximity to a Head Start program and a wilderness trail ending behind the school helped everything fall into place, Thomas said.

“Even though it was sad to close the church, New Prospect had a future,” she said.

Amber Parker, Executive Director of Ijams Nature Center, said the organization is deeply grateful to the Presbytery of East Tennessee.

“The New Prospect property gives Ijams the space to expand its Nature Preschool, reach more children and families through nature-based learning and offer training to other educators so they can use this method of teaching in their communities,” she said.

“It’s especially meaningful to carry this place forward in a way that honors its legacy while creating new opportunities for the community.”

Presbyterian origins and lasting effects

Neff noted the Ijams family were Presbyterians.

“Their descendants are still members of several of our churches,” and a granddaughter currently serves on the Ijams Nature Center board and is a Presbyterian church elder. “So she was a part of receiving the gift but also giving it from the Presbytery. It felt really good to, in a way, keep it in the family.”

She has received positive feedback about the move from inside and outside church circles.

“I have had so many folks in the presbytery reach out to me and say, ‘I’m so proud to be a Presbyterian right now,’” she said. “We are living into our values of stewardship of creation and education, and we will now have a really lovely partnership with the Ijams Nature Center.”

Neff has also heard from people pleasantly surprised the church would give the property away rather than sell it to the highest bidder.

“Even for people who have had negative experiences of the church, just seeing that a partnership like this could happen — I just can’t help but think that’s a good thing.”