For Whom Our Hearts Were Breaking: Arlington Presbyterian’s Transformational Journey from Discernment to Redevelopment
- VEREP
- Jul 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 2
Arlington Presbyterian Church’s journey began with heartbreak and ended in transformation. By letting go of their building and embracing community-centered redevelopment, they became co-creators of Gilliam Place: a vibrant, mixed-use space with 173 affordable apartment homes and a new worship home for APC. Their story is one of faith, bold action, and deep neighborhood commitment.
Case Study Submitted by Susan Robbins Etherton, Elder, Arlington Presbyterian Church, 06/24/25
Background and Discernment
In November of 2014, five years after the idea first surfaced, the congregation of Arlington Presbyterian Church, by a 2/3rds majority vote, agreed to sell its building and land to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (now True Ground Housing Partners A New Blueprint for Affordable Housing) for the redevelopment of a mixed-use building to house 173 affordable apartment homes and 9,000 s.f. of commercial space. Five years later, in November of 2019, the congregation returned to its new home to lease 3500 s.f. on the ground floor of Gilliam Place. Five (5) months later, in March of 2020, we closed the doors to our new worship space due to the COVID-19 pandemic for what would be almost two (2) years.
Letting Go: A Journey of Faith Begins
The story of APC’s transformational journey is a long one, marked by unexpected twists and turns, complications and clarity, perseverance and prayer. The hymn that accompanied us on our journey and still fits today is entitled “Faith Begins by Letting Go” *. That hymn exemplifies our journey. It's three verses lovingly frame the stages of our journey:
The invitation:
Verse 1 - Faith begins by letting go,
giving up what had seemed sure,
taking risks and pressing on,
though the way feels less secure:
pilgrimage both right and odd,
trusting all our life to God.
After the original idea to redevelop our building and land for affordable housing was rejected by the congregation, we embarked on a series of events that would lead us back to it. First was an appreciative inquiry exercise called New Beginnings. Next came working with a coach, creating a vision team, and heading out into the neighborhood to listen for where our hearts were breaking. Our three-month vision team process was grounded in daily prayer and Bible study, frequent visits with our neighbors, and weekly reporting to one another and the congregation. We had to let go of our fears, our preconceptions, and our clinging to the status quo. We had to trust our prayer, our listening, and our hearts, letting go of what seemed sure – our security. Once started, the pilgrimage was beyond our plan and imagination. At every turn, we were asked to continue to let go of our plan, our ideas, and trust that God had better ideas. That unexpectedly included letting go of so many things, including a stand-alone building that looked like a traditional church.
Perseverance Through the Process:
Verse 2 - Faith endures by holding on,
keeping mem’ry’s roots alive
so that hope may bear its fruit;
promise-fed, our souls will thrive,
not through merit we possess
but by God’s great faithfulness.
On the journey, we were strengthened by our commitment to God, to one another and to our community. We held on to the certainty that if an idea was God’s, it would come to be – one way or another. We remembered the roots of our congregation as trailblazers and risk-takers. We continued to honor the legacy of our predecessors who were first at many things as a church.
Ronda A. Gilliam (for whom Gilliam Place is named) is one among many who had the courage to step beyond the comforts of the status quo to serve our neighbors. In 1960, one year after the desegregation of Arlington County schools, he became the first African American member of Arlington Presbyterian Church. He served as a church Elder and, in 1970, founded a clothing assistance program to meet the community's needs. Our ongoing commitment to South Arlington continues to honor the memory of both him and so many others.
Through God’s great faithfulness, our perseverance resulted in Gilliam Place and APC’s new home.
The Fruit of Transformation:
Verse 3 - Faith matures by reaching out,
stretching minds, enlarging hearts,
sharing struggles, living prayer,
binding up the broken parts;
till we find the commonplace
ripe with witness to God’s grace.
The transformed congregation that now has its home in Gilliam Place may seem to bear little resemblance to the congregation that began the journey. On the journey, some members were disappointed and left, some left for other, more traditional churches, and some felt their voices weren’t heard. Despite that loss, what you will find now is the fruit of God’s labors – within us, with our neighbors, and within the larger faith community. The current congregation understands the importance of continuing to reach out, to listen deeply, to allow our hearts to grow wider and stronger, and to share our struggles with one another and with our community.
We offer a vibrant ministry on Sundays, free music offerings, and lessons for the residents of Gilliam Place, a large green space located on the corner, open to our friends and neighbors. It provides respite and a space to run and be at peace.
We embrace and live out the story of our core values (which can be found on our website: arlingtonpresbyterian.org). Our willingness to utilize the funds generated from the sale of the property has fostered a broad spirit of generosity and abundance, enabling us to respond to ongoing opportunities to support our neighbors and community. We are now part of a thriving ecosystem woven into the fabric of South Arlington in a communal way. As a result, we have welcomed many visitors and new members, some of whom live in Gilliam Place, many of whom heard our story and want to be a part of it.
We are a congregation continuing to be transformed and are indeed “ripe with witness to God’s grace.” Thanks be to God.
Resources and Reflections
Arlington Presbyterian Church welcomes any opportunity to share their story in person and to answer any questions you may have: arlingtonpresbyterian.org
