Ryan Burge

Ryan Burge, a professor studying religion's role in America, and Mandy Olson, a former pastor whose church closed, delve into the rising tide of church closures. Mandy shares poignant insights about the loss of community, as her church's food pantry and support systems vanished. Ryan discusses the financial pressures on small congregations and the broader social ramifications, highlighting how these closures dismantle crucial social safety nets and challenge communities, even affecting those who aren't religious.