February 02, 2015
The organization, which has been based in New York for nearly 200 years, announced the move Monday. Its new headquarters will be located at 401 Market Street, merging some staff from offices in New York and Valley Forge.
"We are thrilled that we will be starting a third century of service headquartered here in Philadelphia," President and CEO Roy Peterson said in a statement. "Home to America's first hopes as a new nation, Philadelphia is now home to a very bright future for American Bible Society."
Philadelphia was selected for its strategic collaboration opportunities, affordability and livability, Peterson said. Also, the ministry's first president, Elias Boudinot, was a native Philadelphian.
Executive Vice President Geof Morin said the organization spent nearly one year weighing its options. The enthusiasm that local government, businesses, churches and educational outfits voiced for potential partnerships played a big factor in deciding on Philadelphia, Morin said.
"Other cities said the same thing, but this was said with incredible authenticity," Morin said. "One is that sense of partnership and connection. The other is we love the Philadelphia story, if you will. It has this wonderful resurgence."
The Old City location also provides the ministry an opportunity to share the Bible's role in the formation of the United States, Morin said. The ministry seeks to create a Bible Discovery Center on the first floor of its new office building, located just minutes from Independence Mall. It anticipates the Bible Discovery Center opening sometime in 2016 — the organization's bicentennial anniversary.
The new headquarters will encompass nearly 100,000 square feet on the eighth and ninth floors, slated to open this summer. The organization also will house a conference center, rare scriptures depository and scholarly working library on the concourse level.
The ministry sold its 12-story New York office — located on Broadway in the Upper West Side — for $300 million, according to the Christian Post.
"The 1865 Broadway property has served us well for nearly 50 years," Board Chairman Pieter Dearolf told the Christian Post. "The decision to sell the property was made to unlock the value of the site to further the mission of American Bible Society. As we approach a third century of mission, we are laying the groundwork for the next 100 years of inviting people to experience the life-changing message of the Bible."
The organization seeks to make the Bible available in every language and have 100 million Americans engaging with the book.
The American Bible Society's move to Philadelphia is the latest religious development in a city known for its Quaker roots. Pope Francis will hold mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the fall, a celebration expected to attract hundreds of thousands of Catholics to the city. A 53,000 square-foot Mormon temple is being constructed near Logan Square; it is slated to open in 2016.
Mayor Michael Nutter released a statement welcoming the American Bible Society to the city.
"Philadelphia is a place where businesses and nonprofits receive a warm reception," Nutter said.
