VOL. 66 NO. 4 APRIL, 1983 THEUJITIIESS To Repair the Ruined Something New in the Wind: Donald W. Shriver, Jr. Bishops vs. Economic Policy Richard W. Gillett Sheltering the Homeless: publication. The Power of Futility and John Poppy reuse for required Permission DFMS. / ill Church Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright JLtElJLXJaAB JJJSTTJSIU* Re: Exquisitely Insensitive LETTERS as a carry-forward of supererogation. In august buildings as well as their store- either case, you can look the Presiding fronts are largely made up of the people Bishop and other apostles of steward- whom the author thinks should be

;•• ship in the eye when they come around exempt from the rigor of giving a tithe of mmwwnvmwwmmw on their tithing canvasses, knowing that 10%: the unemployed, the underem- you are doing your fair share according ployed, the female single parents, the publication. to the Word of God. poor, the ADC parents, the Food Stamps and Tithing Fiscal Archaism It is of course true that this funda- recipients as well as middle-class Judith Anderson makes a number of mentalist interpretation of tithing would Blacks. reuse excellent points in her protest against let affluent communicants off the ecclesi- Tithing is a crucial part of their tradi- for pressure for tithing ("The Exquisitely astical hook along with those in Judith tion and spirituality, a point always Insensitive Approach to Tithing," Anderson's income bracket. This might emphasized in their worship at the time January.) She has, however, overlooked make the Standing Commission on of the offertory and in the preaching. required one of the most fundamental. Stewardship and Development regret Nor is the tithe trivialized and made less The biblical standard of tithing was that they brought the matter up in the rigorous in those churches by stretching established when the Jews were first place, which would be all to the the idea of 10% to include "time" and governed theocratically — the church "talent" as the author is wont to do. Such

Permission good, since tithing really has no more and the state were one. Moses and his relevance to 20th century American a stretching may be appealing to Episco- assistants and their successors were Christendom than do animal sacrifices palians and others in churches whose

DFMS. responsible not only for the spiritual / and patriarchal polygamy. If, however, giving is not at all commensurate with well-being of the people, but for the they wish to persist in fiscal archaism the suspected affluence of its member- maintenance of public order, public without losing the support of the wealthy, ship, but not in the churches of the Church health, education, national defense, the they should consider resurrecting the Blacks and the poor. A tithe is under- conduct of foreign relations, the stand- sin offering and the thank offering. stood to mean 10% of one's income for ardization of weights and measures, and The Rev. David F. Ross the work of God and His kingdom both Episcopal whatever other governmental functions Lexington, Ky. for the poor and the oppressed. It is an

the there were to perform. The tithe support- important understanding of stewardship of ed all of this. Hence, the modern for them. equivalent of tithing is not to give 10% of Little Contact With Blacks I trust this answers the author's income (either gross or after-tax) to the Just an observation about the contents rhetorical query about "Would anyone Archives church, but to give 10% of gross income of the article, "The Exquisitely Insensi- preach about tithing 10% to a poor to the church and government combined. tive Approach to Tithing," by Judith inner- parish?". Black churches as 2020. My advice to Ms. Anderson is this. Anderson. It is obvious that the author well as the Pentecostal and Holiness First, calculate your total income. Don't either has little contact with churches in churches have done it for decades and fuss about technical exemptions — this the Black religious tradition as well as in their people respond accordingly. Copyright is not for some lawyer or accountant, but the inner-city Pentecostal and Holiness The Rev. R. E. Hood for God. Put it all in — gifts from parents, tradition or has misunderstood the place \ General Theological Seminary child-support payments, food stamps, and urgency of tithing in those churches. New York, N.Y. everything you have available to meet Contrary to her well-meaning protests your expenses. Second, calculate 10% of sympathy, these churches with their of that total. Third, subtract all your tax Often Feel Guilty payments, federal, state, and local. If the Thanks to Judith Anderson for her remainder is positive, this is what you sensitive article on tithing. I am an should be contributing to the church; if "older" university student working my it's negative, you could try asking the way through a Ph.D. Funds are not church to pay it to you, or just regard it available for basic repairs, TV, etc. which Approach to Tithing

everyone takes for granted, to say tion essential to overthrowing money as include direct experience with the Black nothing of new clothes. We want to give, an idol and reducing it to what it is — a religious tradition and the Pentecostal but often feel guilty because the amount , a tool, a necessary commodity, an and Holiness traditions. But I understand is so small. (other) occasion for stewardship — and that another aspect of these traditions is Jane E. Rasmussen that's all. No mystery, no symbolic value a long-standing sense of community, St. Louis Park, Minn. no basic importance. empathy and mutual support, like that of publication. Your questions, however, go beneath a very close-knit family, sensitive to its

and that practical response to given social members in need; a warm, rather Asking Right Questions norms and call us to yet further de- egalitarian atmosphere with less of the

reuse As to Judith Anderson's questions in the mystification of the causes and rationale hidden hierarchies and classism one

for January WITNESS about to whom the for the norms themselves. I only hope senses in the ordinary Episcopal parish Episcopal Church is talking when it talks that your plea is heard by a church church. I admire the generosity and about tithing, the answers are yes, yes, which mostly keeps itself ignorant of awareness (and exuberance) in these required and yes. Yes, it is the middle and upper and goes supinely along with its own traditions. classes talking to the middle and upper identity in the class-structure, and is David Ross's comments about the classes. Yes, we (the above) and they thereby incapacitated from addressing "theocratic" history of tithing are helpful itself to the fundamental issues of justice Permission (the "worthy poor") are alive and well as to bear in mind in this context, under- functional categories. Yes, the Episcopal which that raises. scoring the idea of a community's Church tries its darndest to remain an But cheer up; things could be worse. sensitivity to its "family" responsibilities. DFMS.

/ Old Boys' Club in matters of money (just You could live in our diocese instead of If we can treat one another in the house- as it does in a quite literal way in sacra- your own. Unemployment and job in- hold with more tact, perhaps we can mental matters, in this neck of the security is just about as bad here as it is better offer Christ's gifts to the world. Church woods). Your questions, sister, are the there; the concentration of elderly I think we should all welcome the right ones to be asking; I'm sorry that the people is probably much higher. My frankness of Carol Carlson's letter, the answers can only add to your anguish. husband, our parish treasurer, practi- call to some hard self-examination of Episcopal In fairness to the General Convention, cally weeps as he counts out the nickels, ourselves and our denomination. The

the it must be said that, given the predomi- quarters and $1 bills pledged mostly out anger and outrage and pain are very of nantly upper-class base of support for of Social Security (or less) to the weekly real. As we begin publicly to tell our our church, and given the relative stingi- offering (no upper-class base of support stories in vivid detail, we may learn to ness of the rich (an average 1-2% of here!). communicate truly in every sense of that Archives income given away) as compared to the "Money," you say, "is a very sensitive liturgical word. poor (+5%), some kind of mandate to subject, but do we realize how symbolic Judith Anderson 2020. this group to give has long been it is?" Oh yes, Judith Anderson, I think East Lansing, Mich. necessary. Moreover, this action does we do; I really think we do. The only take one step toward moving monetary question is, how long we will tolerate Copyright income — specific dollar amounts — out such "symbols" as communications of the sacred silence which "politeness" appropriate to the Body of Christ? imposes on it in our society, and into the Carol Carlson realm of ordinary conversation and Mt. Jewett, Pa. analysis. This is a piece of de-mystifica-

Ms. Anderson Responds I find the letters, and the dialogue, most interesting. In answer to R. E. Hood, it is true that my background does not THE WITNESS THE

EDITOR WITNESS Mary Lou Suhor

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robert L. DeWitt

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Richard W. Gillett publication. Hugh C. White and Something New in the Wind reuse STAFF for n the religious community's severe economic upheaval in more Ann Hunter perennial and frequently contro- than a century," and stated that the Susan Small I Bonrrie Spady versial engagement with societal "internationalization of investments required Lisa Whelan issues, something new is in the and production, combined with wind. Following the widespread new technologies, places the public debate engendered by the economic future of millions of

Permission PUBLISHER U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops' draft families and hundreds of local Episcopal Church Publishing Company pastoral letter on the nuclear arms communities in jeopardy." race — itself a milestone — there is DFMS.

/ Other denominations either now emerging from the churches ECPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS separately or in concert are also the beginnings of a major moral beginning to issue declarations Church CHAIR challenge to current economic H. Colernan McGehee and initiate programs attempting to policy. deal with the economic crisis in a VICE-CHAIR The most recent example came Barbara Harris structural way. The U.S. Roman Episcopal in a statement titled "Ethical SECRETARY Catholic bishops are slated to the Helen Seager Reflections on the Economic issue a major pastoral letter in 1984 of TREASURER Crisis" issued in January by the on capitalism and Christianity Robert Potter Commission for Social Affairs of which promises to stir widespread

Archives ASSISTANT TREASURER the Canadian Conference of discussion. Robert Eckersley Catholic Bishops. In that statement

2020. These efforts are more than a Otis Charles they urged the Canadian govern- generalized cry to aid the unem- Robert L. DeWitt ment to develop an industrial ployed and restore social welfare Steven Guerra strategy to create permanent and

Copyright cuts. They begin to question on Suzanne Hiatt meaningful jobs. They character- moral and religious grounds some Mattie Hopkins ized the present recession as long-held assumptions about Joan Howarth possibly "symptomatic of a much larger structural crisis in the profit, jobs, capital and economic James Lewis freedom in America — the under- Joseph A. Pelham capitalist system." In a similar vein, last September the Urban Bishops pinnings of the free enterprise THE WITNESS is published monthly. Editorial Coalition of the U.S. Episcopal system itself. office: P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002. Phone Church issued a Labor Day Is the new trend simply a (215) 643-7067. Subscription rates $12 per year. $1 per copy. Copyright 1983 by the Episcopal pastoral letter which called the headline-grabbing effort by clergy Church Publishing Company. Printed In U.S.A. present crisis of plant closings and to distract from an inability to ISSN 0197-8896. high unemployment "the most "speak convincingly about such Editorial publication. Churcheand s vs. Economic Policy Richard W. Gillett reuse

for untrendy subjects as sin and additional developments which all of our economic and social salvation," as columnist George F. seem to bode ill for a return to any institutions by the plumbline of Will put it? That cynical dismissal acceptable rates of unemployment how well they enhance the fulfill- required ignores what some economists and and community stability. ment of the individual and promote even a few politicians are be- a wholesome and caring society Unemployment among people of ginning to recognize: that there is a for even the least of its members. color, (among Black teenagers it is

Permission profound crisis in the structure and These criteria should be applied about 50%) has long been chronic shape of work occurring in the to such critical emerging questions — a systematic denial of training Western industrial world. In as whether the use of capital is DFMS.

/ and placement opportunities for America the crisis is afflicting now serving and enhancing people who may never even enter millions of workers in the form of community (or whether it increas- the work force, thus constituting a Church plant closures and layoffs and is ingly serves its owners); whether "permanent underclass" in the dooming hundreds of communities work is for the person (or whether wealthiest nation on earth. across the to economic a person is a mere cog in the

Episcopal lifelessness. What is important about the new production process); whether

the religious statements on the workers ought to have participa-

of The sweeping dimensions of the economy is not necessarily the tion in major work-related economic crisis are beginning to specific analyses they offer, but decisions affecting them, such as convince many that they go far

Archives rather that they come out of their own disemployment (or deeper than mere criticism of substantive moral beliefs that have whether both unions and Reaganomics. 2020. deep religious foundations in the management treat them as less- According to Massachusetts Judeo-Christian tradition. Among than-intelligent automatons), and economists Barry Bluestone and these are the special value and how each of these questions relate

Copyright Bennett Harrison, this economic dignity of human work in the divine to the rising racism and sexism of crisis has seen the loss of between plan for creation, the inherent recent years. 30 and 50 million jobs in the 1970s, preciousness of the community of If churches and synagogues in a massive "deindustrialization" all human beings, and the strong have the courage to do so and the of the United States and a rapid scriptural emphasis upon the poor conviction of their own religious shift to a service and information- and the outcast as special objects beliefs, they could make a major oriented economy. The increasing of the divine concern. Coming contribution to what ought to ease in moving capital and from that angle, they have the become the focus of a great equipment across the globe, and power that religious institutions at national debate: how our economic the accelerating use of robots and their best can offer society: the system can be designed to serve other automation techniques are ability to judge the performance of the people and not vice versa. • he doors were just closed, not T locked, and the men waiting on the pavement outside wanted very much to leave the night chill and go in. Around the corner, the staff monitors had opened the nave of the church. They did it every evening for people who wanted to sit in a pew and stay warm until 10 o'clock, when the meetings in the parish hall would be cleared out and volunteers would have 120 cots and blankets set up. Many of the volunteers had been homeless themselves; they worked publication. swiftly and unsentimentally to get things and ready. reuse for Sheltering the required

At 10 p.m. the men started coming in.

Permission Each one showed his referral slip from a city distribution point, then headed for a cot where he would spend the night. DFMS. / (Women, couples, and children had been sent to several hotels in the city's

Church Tenderloin, half a mile farther down- .) If one didn't have a slip, he went in after those who did. Some wore

Episcopal clothes that had long since lost their the shape and carried bundles that probably of needed cleaning, but most looked little different from the way you or I would

Archives look if we had spent some days out- doors. Which they had. The one thing

2020. common to all the men was that they had no home to sleep in that night. A few hand-lettered signs over the

Copyright rows of cots said "NO Smoking — Alcohol — Stealing — Fights — he day before Thanksgiving, rector Robert Cromey (right) Gambling — Sex — Weapons — T told the staff at Trinity Church in San Francisco, "Things Drugs." The calm presence of the have reached the point where we ought to have a Trinity monitors, combined with the generally flophouse." The Rev. Richard Kerr (left), a volunteer assistant said, "I'll make it happen if you'll let me." Cromey said, "Go." A John Poppy, a former senior editor of Look week later, the church was the first in its city to take in and managing editor of Saturday Review: The homeless people overnight, and the congregation has rallied Arts, contributes to numerous national around a shelter program that could have an impact far beyond magazines. He and his wife Julia attend the 125 men a night to whom it offers refuge. Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco. subdued bearing of the men as they all of his 38 years; he drove a cab for 12 remarks. "And when they ask, 'Where came in, made the signs seem almost a years; now, no job, no home. "But I'll can we call you?' I can't give them the polite formality. Besides, a spirit of get something." He doesn't look beaten. church's phone number." Andy, a wispy community had taken hold in the shelter John, a neatly trimmed blond in his youngster barely out of his teens, arrived within days after it opened; old-timers middle 20's, wearing a light sweater, in the city three weeks ago; he wears an tended to answer newcomers' questions clean shirt and carefully kept jeans, AA battery hung from his left earlobe, and keep them from rocking the boat. looks more tense. He moved from New and is so bewildered and exhausted that There was no milling around, not much York last summer for a job as an he breaks into laughter at odd moments noise. Just men finding cots, lying down, assistant office manager but lost it when while telling about tearing up his papers and going to sleep as soon as they could. he showed up two days late; he's been in a fit of impatience at the General People are tired when they come in off sleeping in the church for a couple of Assistance office that morning. He asks the streets. weeks, looking for work during the day. to be awakened at 5 a.m. so he can go "One problem when you don't have a back with a new acquaintance who has publication. Some, however, would sit up and talk quietly in two areas set aside for place to stay is keeping yourself promised to show him how to act, and and smoking. Mario has lived in the city for presentable to look for a job," he try again. "If somebody doesn't give me reuse for Homeless: The Power of Futility byjohnPo y required PP Permission DFMS. / Church Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright

As soon as evening meetings clear out of the Trinity Church parish hall, volunteer assistants have half an hour to set up 125 cots with blankets. Then they open the doors to homeless people who, without the support of this congregation, would spend the night on the streets. some help I don't know what I'm going Kerr, a volunteer associate priest at be asking for a free meal but grateful for to do," he keeps saying. Trinity, made it happen, getting a pledge something to tide them over while they "Get some rest so you can control of $20,000 from the city government for look for work. yourself better," says Ken, a monitor. the first two months, finding supplies, "At no time since the Great Depres- "Go on, now." Ken himself used to recruiting staff and volunteers. The sion," says the Community for Creative spend his nights sleeping on chairs at congregation of about 250, growing Non-Violence in Washington, D.C., another shelter. Now he puts his experi- under a vigorous new ministry yet "have the homeless poor represented so ence in homelessness to work as a paid sometimes seeming outnumbered by its broad a cross-section of American monitor here. guests, firmly supports the presence of society as they do today." Or such a By 11:30 every cot was claimed and the guests. One churchgoer mobilized large portion of us. The number of most of the occupants were asleep. On her catering service to provide the homeless persons in this most wealthy average, about 90% of them have breakfasts. Others donated money they of all has risen, by some completed high school, and 30% are could scarcely spare, and time. The estimates, to at least 2 million. publication. college graduates. Somewhere between people of Trinity have shown extra- What do the people in a church feel and a third and a half are alcohol or drug ordinary generosity and care. when they know they are just treating a abusers, are physically or mentally It is all so decent, and good-hearted symptom, while the disease, as far as reuse disabled, or are street-wise wanderers for . . . and ineffective. they can see, gets worse? What do they who aren't looking for work. More than What will providing a warm place to feel about the impact an individual can two-thirds have held jobs that lasted sleep for 120 men a night do about the have on the arms race? What can they required more than a year. At a rough guess, conditions that put them on the streets? do when they hear a sermon in which more than half of them are immediately San Francisco Mayor Dianne Trinity Rector Robert Cromey quotes employable. Some are just out of luck, Feinstein made headlines in the local Pope Paul VI: "Armaments kill the

Permission out of ideas, unsure of what has papers last fall when she started saying poor by causing them to starve"? What happened to them. Some, like Ken, that her city, with a population of just about big-city real-estate speculation? figure that they put themselves where 680,000, had 10,000 homeless people on Cromey cites condominium conversions DFMS. / they are, one way or another, and plan its sidewalks and dark corners every and soaring rents that price housing to move on. "I ran the red light and I'm night. The figure was recently revised to beyond the reach of many. What about

Church paying the ticket," is the way Ken put it. 4,000; the truth is, nobody knows the a distorted distribution of wealth? By 8 a.m. the next morning everyone real number. But you can see the people Cromey notes that some people let food was up, had coffee and a brown-bag wherever you go. Such estimates don't rot in storage while others go hungry.

Episcopal breakfast of hard-boiled egg, roll, and count the thousands of others who get Last year the stock market rose 171 the fresh fruit, and was back on the street. free meals from the dining rooms and points, as the Boston Globe's columnist of The guests in the church had received soup kitchens run by the churches and Ellen Goodman reminds us, while something else, too, in the way they had community groups. unemployment rose by 2.5 million. Are been treated: a bit of dignity. "Maybe "Feeding the hungry has become so the congregations of churches like Archives it's only 2 or 3% more than they've felt big a task that it is stretching the Trinity, even with the best of intentions,

2020. somewhere else," Ken suggested, "but resources of volunteer agencies." That doing anything to fix the political and they take it out on the street with them. statement comes not from some angry economic conditions that produce such It sticks." radical paper but from a recent article in discordant realities?

Copyright This is happening, as it is in other the Wall Street Journal, which goes on "We don't extend ourselves for other locations around the United States, at to quote Karen Kordisch, head of the people because we're going to be ef- Trinity Episcopal Church in San Hunger Task Force, a private group in fective," says Rick Kerr, who directs the Francisco. Last Dec. 1, Trinity became Cleveland: "We're a Band-Aid and Trinity shelter program. "We do it the first church in that city to offer Cleveland is hemorrhaging." In Cleve- because there is no way to be a human overnight sleeping space to the home- land, San Francisco, and communities being and not do it." less. Robert Cromey, the rector, knew across the United States, the hungry Robert Cromey speaks of a responsi- that churches in other places such as and the homeless are younger than they bility for ministry and for prophecy, Atlanta had started housing people used to be; many are women; more and intertwined. "Here are human beings several years ago, and set in motion the more of the people at the soup kitchens who are not being taken care of; we'll do program in his own parish. Richard are couples with children, ashamed to the best we can for them as a stopgap

8 also we're re-membered with the home- less downstairs. We're joined with them symbolically, and we don't get to escape the connection with people in the world. "The prophetic dimension comes naturally out of regular participation in the feeding of bread and wine. Of course we've got to feed people. Of course we've got to house people and take care of them. We are saying, day in and day out, week in and week out, 'We are being fed,' and therefore we ought to feed others." publication. Rick Kerr continues, "Social prob- and lems are soluble. For evidence, look at the elimination of slavery as an institu- reuse tion. Abraham took Hagar, his slave, to for produce an heir, and it was not until Trinity Church volunteers hustle to produce a brown bag breakfast of hard-boiled egg, roll and fresh fruit for the homeless men who have slept at the parish hall the previous night. 5,000 years later in the United States required (less in some other countries) that measure. We all know that 1 Corinthians That is the catch in what they are slavery was repudiated as a moral is where Paul tells us we are members of doing: the consequences. possibility. But it did happen — and on They have no intention of making religious grounds. Slavery was repudi-

Permission the body of Christ: 'And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer mere gestures. Rick Kerr's motive is not ated theologically before it was rejected with it; or one member be honored, all to be effective, it is to be human. Of politically." DFMS.

/ the members rejoice with it.' We honor course there is effectiveness in that. "It Such politics as the church has, he the poor by feeding them and giving seems to me that the message of the New suggests, are "the politics of total

Church them a place to sleep. But that is only Testament and the witness of the inclusiveness. No one is to be excluded. partially honoring them. We also honor church," he says, "is that God has That gives us a unique opportunity to them by doing something about the handed over to humanity the responsi- accomplish some things. Of course this

Episcopal conditions in society that keep them bility to solve our problems, and the is more theoretical than actual in the

the hungry and homeless. power to do it." lives of many parishes and congrega- of "And that is where our ministry leads "Responsibility," says Cromey, "can tions. In this parish at this time, there is to prophecy. The ministry is a proclam- be translated as the ability to respond. a radical openness — to the traditional ation, a dramatic way to point out to the You're only alive if you keep responding and the new, to old people and young, Archives community that we've all got work to to what is happening around you. When from a few parishioners with wealth all

2020. do. Remember the Old Testament pro- I say I have a responsibility for the sun the way to the many who have nothing, phets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, coming up in the morning, I don't mean to gay and non-gay, and so on." Micah: One of their ideas is to use that I cause it but that I can respond to That assessment is accurate. Trinity is

Copyright prophecy not in the sense of predicting it. That is a gift we all have." the oldest Episcopal church west of the the future, as we say, 'Next Tuesday During Communion, when Cromey Rockies, built by the rich burghers of we're going to have rain' — but in the recites, "Do this in remembrance of San Francisco, and the congregation sense of pointing a direction for a me," he puts particular emphasis on "re- still includes members of old-line, tradi- people. The prophetic voice says, 'If you membrance," driving home its dimen- tional families. In addition, about a don't take care of the poor and the sion — beyond simply thinking about third of the congregation now is gay. homeless and if justice isn't being done, Jesus at the moment — of re-joining, They and the non-gay parishioners, this nation will fall.' We might not want being present with, one flesh with. certainly including most of its straight- to put the consequences in such dire "When we do Eucharist," he says in laced older ones and the crusading terms, but the point is that there will be response to a parishioner's question, rector, work harmoniously together. consequences." "we do it in remembrance of Christ, and Continued on page 14

9 • To Repair the a czq he Mayor of Cleveland looked the Creator. Babel, Israel remembered, T President Reagan in the eye and collapsed of its own weight of pride. told him that Cleveland was in deep Then there were the historical cities of trouble. In a recent visit to the White that memory: Thebes, Memphis, Pithom House, as reported in the Cleveland and Raamses, the shrine cities of Egypt, Plain Dealer, the Mayor said youth where the Pharoahs ruled as gods and publication. CHS Sfl D unemployment was up, and at least half enslaved people like the Hebrews to and of the minority youth were out of work. build tombs meant to last forever — Man Power training funds were a third more towers of Babel, of course. Further reuse

for of what they were in 1979. Bankruptcies into their historical memory, the im- D 1 had doubled. And on the way to perial cities of Nineveh, Babylon, and Washington he had met in a parking lot finally Rome — all monuments to the required an ex-convict, an out-of-work machinist human lust for power, all of them rinity Cathedral, Cleveland, marked who could not find work and was grinding little nations under their heels. T Its 75th anniversary last year with a festive service highlighting Its role as a having trouble accumulating the $ 1.50 a Can anything good come out of cities?

Permission major institution with a long record of day required to keep his alcoholic habit Israel's historic experience made the service to the needs of the city. Dean going. The Mayor, it is reported, told prophets wonder. Even Jerusalem, Perry R. Williams invited Donald the President about this ex-convict. allegedly God's favorite city, becomes DFMS. Shriver, president of Union Theologi- / cal Seminary, New York, to preach for What will military might do for this the center of corrupt religion and equally the occasion. country, he asked the President, if our corrupt politics. "It is not possible for a

Church Dr. Shriver outlined the biblical cities are unable to rehabilitate such a prophet to perish out of Jerusalem" criteria of a great city, and explored the man with a job and with treatment for (Luke 13:33) said Jesus, and he said it following "Trinitarian foundations." A his alcoholism? with a sigh: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you great city, he said, is one where: Episcopal 1. People have stopped worshiping Our cities, he said, need attention — that kill prophets . . . how often have I the Idols, because they know and worship not only their sewer and transportation longed to gather your children as a hen of God, creator of earth and all creatures; systems, but their people as well. From gathers her brood under her wings .. ." 2. People are organizing themselves that report, the Mayor sounds like a They threw him out of Nazareth, but to meet the earthly needs of the

Archives they killed him in Jerusalem. weakest citizens of the community; public leader who thinks that Cleveland and is in need of repair. That puts him in the Not a very optimistic picture of

2020. 3. In the hearts of people, hope for biblical ballpark. human life in cities. the future is winning out over despair. Down through history cities have But strange saving events are associ- THE WITNESS agreed with Dean been great centers of idolatry. That is ated with many of these same corrupt Williams that Dr. Shriver's sermon Copyright should be made accessible to all who why on many of its pages the Bible cities. Prophets from Amos to Jeremiah care deeply about the repair and seems to read like an anti-urban tract. insisted on preaching in the midst of welfare of the cities. In early, medieval, and modern urban cities like Bethel and Jerusalem. And history, one confronts a series of reasons there, in the midst of Jerusalem, we find for the founding of cities that are not apostles preaching "Jesus and the very attractive to the prophets. The first resurrection," because this Jesus, risen city in Israel's memory was mythological from the dead, instructed them that they Babel, city of the proud tower, built to are so to preach, "in Jerusalem" (Acts celebrate the clever achievements of 1:8) — to make a new start in this humans who were quite willing to forget human adventure, beginning in the place that theirs was a life received from God where some of the worst in humanity

10 Ruined Cities by Don Shriver had come to expression. Run away to medieval city, that bourg built with The cities of this American continent preach the Good News in the country- stout walls, was a theological improve- are late arrivals in this 5000-year-old side? Retreat to the suburbs? Not by the ment on the Babylons and Romes of history. The people who came here grace of God you won't. Beginning in old. The walls protected nobility and beginning in the 16th century, were Jerusalem. the aristocratic system of the time, but it almost all merchants-in-the-making: also protected even the country serfs they came to build Boston, Norfolk, publication. Before a dozen generations of Chris- from the full brunt of international Philadelphia, Savannah, Albany and

and tians had done their share of obeying anarchy. If a cathedral tower sprouted all-points-west on the Erie Canal. The those apostolic instructions, the great there, pointing upward to the Great people who founded my home town of reuse Imperial Whore of Babylon, Rome the God of the Universe, how could idolatry Norfolk needed a port for shipping out for Idolatrous, decided officially to give up flourish quite so readily as before? their peanuts and tobacco from the its idolatry. It made peace with the Then there was the market-city of the upriver plantations. Then they needed Christians, who until then — 312 A.D. required Renaissance, built from the collabor- the same port, expanded, for shipping — were going to the lions because they ations of princes and middle-class out the West Virginia coal. Memphis were no more willing to worship Caesar merchants — the middle class, that built was the city that cotton built; Chicago, than their Hebrew ancestors were willing

Permission its houses outside the walls of the "Toolmaker, Stacker of Wheat, Player to worship Pharoah. fortified city, in between the aristocrats with Railroads" for the westward trek All this led to the possibility of build- and the country peasantry. And that is of Europeans across the Great Plains. DFMS. / ing human cities around some other where a long history lesson arrives at And Cleveland: the city of interlocked principle than the worship of idols. The last at the history of Cleveland, Ohio. ships and rail lines, the city that steel Church Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright

11 built and machine tools, too. of cities on this continent, income ture, he would have said such things This nation of cities — who built determines where we live, who our even more forcefully if he could say them, if not mostly poor people with an neighbors will be. There is no iron law them backed up by the loud voice of a ache in their bones never to be poor that requires this. People of different high proportion of the people who are again? income levels could live close together, attending church and synagogue. I think Historically and spiritually speaking, especially if we had an ethic and an of a state legislator, a woman, in we are up to the present moment. But economic-political commitment to Connecticut who recently said to an we have not left the first theological make it so — and a real estate industry interviewer: "One church lobbyist up point: the danger of idolatry in urban encouraged by the market (that is, here doesn't mean anything to me life. If you think that idolatry is no customers like most of us) to work with because I'm not sure many people are longer a danger to the people of modern weak people to make them stronger. behind him . . . what it takes is signed secular urban America, look again. In To do this we would have to go along statements from parishes that are the early 1970s my family lived in a with maxims like the one Jesus repeated involved in a given issue — the grass publication. housing inside the city limits to the Devil, that old Idolater: "Humans roots people. If I had 500 signatures and of Atlanta. A social agency in town, do not live by bread alone, but by every from different churches . . . people working with "problem" teenagers word that proceeds from the mouth of saying, 'I support the call to make reuse referred to them by the courts, decided God." (Matthew 4:4) To do this we decent housing for the poor through for that suburban living was an influence would have to call a halt to the notion these methods . . .', you know, with all towards normality in American society. those signatures, we could get some- thing done up here (in Hartford)." required (By moving there, our family showed its agreement with that assumption.) So "Down through history cities Sad to confess, one trouble with the agency took steps to buy a home on have been great centers of American political life is that the our block, to make a "halfway home" dividing line between those who worship Permission idolatry. That is why on many idols and those who worship the Lord is for a couple and four or five of these of its pages the Bible seems to young people. Not all of these teenagers, likely to run right through many a

DFMS. read like an anti-urban tract. In

/ of course, would necessarily have white Christian congregation. A recent survey faces. There were 15 homes on our early, medieval, and modern sponsored by the Connecticut Mutual block. Could you not write the scenario urban history one confronts a Life Insurance Company concludes that Church that followed? Thirteen of the 15 families series of reasons for the found- people most actively religious in organized to block the purchase of that ing of cities that are not very America are the ones most enthusiastic attractive to the prophets." about keeping the United States mili-

Episcopal home by the social agency. Failing to do that immediately, they made the atmos- tarily superior to the rest of the world. the of phere of the neighborhood so bitter that Do we rest easy in this association of no social workers would bring even that property values are sacred in the religion in America with the power of slightly disturbed teenagers into such a organization of human affairs. And the guns? It is enough to make one suspect Archives place. So the agency backed out. notion that the most human life is one that religion is not necessarily a good If you had surveyed those 13 families, with the lowest taxes. For love of lower thing. The prophets thought it was not, 2020. they would have said, "It would hurt taxes many of us are willing to tolerate for it could easily be the clothing of our property values." What would you second-class public schools, under- idolatry. call the fear in that statement, and the staffed forces, poor sanitation, No wonder, then, that in the final Copyright racism and classism hiding under it? and more air pollution than any human book of the Bible, Revelation, the From a biblical perspective, you would habitation should tolerate. ultimate future of the world is pictured have to call it the sin of caring for money Why not higher taxes, if we can find a as a future without organized religion. more than for needy people. way to use them for the rehabilitation of The wonder is that, in this allegedly How is it in Cleveland on such a drunks and drug-addicts and homeless anti-urban Bible, the future is finally point? More righteous than Atlanta? poor people, all of whom are as human imaged precisely as a city, "come down American cities are segregated by as anyone else in this society? I like what from heaven." There in that City of race and class, more so now than a mere Mayor George Voinovich said to God, religion will have done its creature- 75 years ago when this cathedral was President Reagan the other day; but ly work in the old world. What we have a-building. More than ever in the history with his colleagues in the state legisla- then is the human community, repaired

12 and restored, living in a truly great city. of struggle over priorities there. But out of chaos, who inspired the prophets At the center of that city, not a temple, what is the relation of our religion to as a minority to believe that the majority not an idol, but "the Lamb slain from our politics if not an invitation to a form were capable of repentance, and who the foundation of the world." A little of spiritual struggle known in the Bible raised Jesus from the dead so that the lamb, enthroned in the place where as repentance? confidence of his disciples might shift religion and government and commerce And the repentance might as well from their despairing selves to the God might have liked to have been en- begin in the churches. Ten years ago in of heaven who means that God's will be throned, but now they all are allocated Atlanta, an elder of the Presbyterian done on earth. the status of worshippers. The center of church, who made his living in the the real city stands revealed: an innocent construction industry, pondered the Faith, love, and hope are the great lamb from the countryside, reminiscent problem of land-availability for the words for a great city. God the Father, of the "meek" who have now "inherited building of low-and-moderate income Son, and Holy Spirit are the bearers and the earth." Humility and love have at housing. He discovered that some of the sustainers of the reality in those words. publication. last come into their own. Compassion largest landowners in the suburbs were Such faith and love and hope must sustain us in our struggle with all the and rules. churches. He went to a number of large So there is the second great anticipa- suburban Presbyterian congregations other realities that yield the Houghs, the reuse tion of the City of God among the with the question, "Would you consider South Bronxes, and the South Sides of for human cities. A city within hailing using some of your spacious church our American city. Facing them, it is distance of the City of God is one where sites as locations for subsidized housing quite indispensable for Christians to confess: "Nothing shall separate us or required the least of these, the brothers and for low and moderate income people?" sisters of Jesus, have become the objects No, we will not, said they, one and all, our city from a love that never lets us go. of neighborly compassion. Chapters 24 Death is not the final word of God upon and 25 of Matthew indicate the human this city, but life." Permission action that best anticipates the Lamb's "This nation of cities — who What does all this say about the rule of the world comes down to built them, if not mostly poor active ministry of a cathedral to the life DFMS.

/ mundane things like water, food, shelter, people with an ache in their of a city like this? The possibilities are medical care, and decent prisons. It's bones never to be poor again?" clear; but they all involve forms of what politics and economics ought to be

Church collaboration between the churches and about, from here to eternity. other human organizations. The Humane urban politics will always be Presbyterians, mind you, who are church's part in the making of a great

Episcopal about arranging this and every city as supposed to believe, with John Calvin, city can at least start in a certain ministry places where the weak and the meek and the that the world is the "theater of God's of words. It's not enough, but it is a of the down-and-out get included in the glory." start, especially if the words are brimful human community. Hubert Humphrey Don't tell me that religion is the with facts and straight-aimed at issues had the Christian flavor of it when he solution to all of Atlanta's or Cleveland's of urgent public policy. They did Archives said, "The moral test of government is problems! One of our cities' problems is another study in Hartford, Conn, in what it does for people in the dawn of religion — its institutions, its people. 1980, interviewing 44 prominent politi- 2020. life — childhood; the twilight of life — What we worship in fact is not always cal and business leaders of that city. old age; and the shadows of life — bad what we worship in name. "What do you expect from the fortune in all its forms."

Copyright Jesus came into the world to give us churches?" they asked. Almost unani- To pass that moral test every single strength and hope for doing what we are mously, the 44 replied: More leadership citizen may have to engage in a mighty supposed to do and have not yet done. on public issues. By "churches" they struggle to sift the facts from the fancies The message to the church and to the meant whole congregations, not just of politics, and to rearrange collective world, is not: "You ought to be good!" ministers. Said one local politican: priorities that will always be in dispute But: "God sent not his son into the "People don't realize that when a in any nearly-democratic society. Con- world to condemn the world but that congregation puts its mind to something sider that the new F-18 fighter program the world through him might be saved." it's remarkable what it can do ... of our national government will cost (John 3:17) What the world needs so Federal grants come and go ... the city just about the amount of money cut obviously is not religion, but the power government, too ... but the church will recently from the welfare budget — lots of that Holy Spirit who brought creation be there... Churches are one of the few

13 institutions where we have honest-to- Neither Isaiah nor Jesus would be Homeless ... Continued from page 9 God free speech." surprised. Both would rejoice: The shelter program, in fact, is ad- At the very least the church should be "They shall build the ancient ruins, ministered almost entirely by gay men debating, among its own members, what they shall raise up the former — a deliberate decision by Rick Kerr, to it can do institutionally to supply the devastations; make the point that "the gay commun- ailing cities of our land with a few they shall repair the ruined cities, ity is a reservoir of wholesome, intelli- parables, a few shining examples of the devastations of many genera- gent people who have real expertise in what a great city, a repaired city might tions." (61:4) • human services and human crisis which look like. The Community Develop- needs to be engaged for the health of the ment Fund of this cathedral and the whole community." The response of Lutheran Housing of this even the most conventional-minded city are on the track of such parables. Boycott Goal in Sight among their fellow parishioners has Here is another, full of encouragement, An action against Taster's Choice coffee, been, in effect, "Keep up the good work publication. from the of Brooklyn, New which commenced 1, may turn out to and what can I do to help? It's going to be the last step in the International boycott of and take all of us to get this done." York: Nestle products. A coalition of 36 local churches in Inaugurated In 1977 by IN FACT (the Infant Kerr concludes, "When that radical reuse several devastated neighborhoods of Formula Action Coalition) the boycott has openness — that catholicity — is truly for Brooklyn has developed what it calls a already impelled Nestle to announce its experienced on the local level, it can compliance with the World Health Organiza- "Nehemiah Plan." Nehemiah, you tion Code of Marketing for Breast Milk break through traditions that have required remember, rebuilt Jerusalem after the Substitutes and to create a Compliance Audit become encrusted and no longer serve Babylonian invasions. The Babylonians Commission chaired by former Secretary of the human race. It can make a new didn't fall upon Brooklyn — just the State Edmund Muskie. statement. "natural" workings of the housing In spite of this, monitors In developing "Allowing so many voices to be heard Permission market which over a generation or two countries continue to report Infractions by the company. Advertising and free samples enables us to speak with power. can turn mansions into slums in any (prohibited by the Code) still persuade Obviously I mean not practical political DFMS.

/ American city. These modern-day mothers to shift from breast milk to Infant power, but moral or spiritual power." Nehemiahs are bent on building 5000 formula. Many of them use unsanitary Yet not necessarily ineffective power. new townhouses for low and moderate containers, which may produce diarrhea;

Church The Trinity congregation has been income families. They have assembled a others over-dilute the formula because they touched by what it is doing, in ways that loan fund of $12 million for the first cannot afford adequate supplies. The company Is now conferring with could make it a model for others. Their 1000 homes, from their own congre-

Episcopal representatives of the International Boycott bishop noticed what they were doing, gational and denominational resources. Committee. Thus, there are grounds for hope and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco the that the intensified action against Taster's of With this "challenge fund" in hand, they started taking in the homeless at night; recently went to the New York City Choice, one of its leading money-makers in so did a Baptist congregation, and a government for an additional loan of this country, will produce agreement and full compliance with the Code. Lutheran. You can see at Trinity's post- Archives $10 million. As quoted by the New York Communion coffee hour that the people Times, a city official said: "No group — Mary Jane Baker, Chair have a mission, and are glad of it. The 2020. has ever come to us like that before. Committee on Corporate Responsibility Episcopal Church Publishing Co. retired secretary who gave $ 1,000 of her Basically they said, 'We've got our $12 savings to the shelter program before million; what have you got?' What else the first city check arrived, "in case you Copyright could we say?" And a local housing need a little spending money," is elated, expert said: "They haven't got the even though she doesn't think she did remaining 4000 homes covered yet... anything special. The Federal government has disappear- CREDITS Cover, Beth Seka adapted from a What really makes you stop and ed as a housing-aid resource, and Albany design by Johanna Vogelsgang; photos think about all this is the ordinariness of is a poor man's town. (But) The thou- pp. 6,7, 9 by Edward A. Hart; graphics the people. They are just paying atten- sand homes are a good starting point pp. 10, 11, Johanna Vogelsgang; tion to their responsibility; nothing —big enough to convince people that photos pp. 16, 17 courtesy Christians extraordinary about us, they say. But the effort is not a toy but small enough for Urban Justice. the light we all see by would be much to be manageable." dimmer without them. •

14 An Explosion of Love by Joan Trafecanty

erhaps it could only happen in the which she absorbed with hidden rage. swimming medal, skating with her class P highly impersonal setting of a sprawl- The first time we saw her she was a at the Great Skate, gaily flirting with a ing city. Down some anonymous lane a bright and lively 4-year old feeding the good-looking admirer. She took an young girl's lifeless body is discovered ducks in Reseda Park with the social interest in many of the guests who came — the victim, they say, of four strangers worker who had brought her to meet us. to the Catholic Worker. She would sit publication. looking for a brief respite from bore- She had cautioned the caseworker that on the porch of Hennacy House talking and dom. Five months after the burial, a "you better not make me go with those to them for hours. form letter — like an intrusive after- people." But after several hours of sly When Tammy was 12, she began to reuse thought — summons the parents to the adult maneuvering, Tammy was per- hang out with kids who were as con- for Coroner's Office to claim "the personal suaded to remain in our home. The fused and reckless as she was. We went property that was found on the dece- strategy was to convince her that she to great lengths to control her behavior required dent." With practiced indifference a had helped choose her new parents, but but it became apparent that we would silent employee shakes out the contents she wasn't fooled. She knew in her heart only be able to do this if we used a lock of a 7 x 11 manila envelope onto the she didn't want to be our daughter. and key. One night she jumped out of ancient green mat behind the iron grille. From the beginning, she shut herself the bathroom window. Tony chased her Permission Three twisted and broken dime store away from us, but this did not become for several blocks but she disappeared rings and a plastic hairbrush. The last clear until many years later. into the heavy brush beside the freeway. DFMS. / remains of a life . . . The months passed and Tammy Even the police hesitated to enter this It was on June 16, 1982, that our 14- learned to adapt to her new family. She dangerous area, frequented by gang

Church year old daughter, Tammy Jo made friends easily and was extremely members and vagrants. When they Trafecanty, was raped and murdered, active. She loved to charge down the finally went in to search for her, she had her violated body dumped in a field in sidewalk on roller skates, sliding to a long since escaped. After that, she rarely

Episcopal Compton. The death certificate listed perfect stop on the front steps of our spent more than a few days at home. We

the the cause of death as "gunshot wounds house. There were problems. She was soon discovered that Los Angeles has of to the head." "sneaky," a tendency later analyzed by a no viable programs to curb the incorrigi- Unidentified, she lay in the morgue psychologist as "passive aggressive" ble runaway. for a month On July 17, when two behavior, a way of covertly expressing It was difficult to fathom the depths Archives policemen knocked at our door and anger. She stole small things, told lies, of rage which drove her to wander,

2020. asked the family to assemble, we knew only obeyed when she was being penniless and dirty, completely depend- in an instant that Tammy was dead. We watched. We felt guilty because we ent on the good will of strangers. Some- had had many visits from police officers found it difficult to care much for this times sleeping under houses, stealing

Copyright before, but they had always had Tammy child, but it was only later that we came clothes off clotheslines — could she in tow, the sullen culprit roaming the to understand that she was unconscious- really prefer this lifestyle? She lived her streets at improbable hours of the night. ly inviting our rejection. own version of voluntary poverty. She Tammy was an adopted child, a fact We hoped that our move to an appeared to have only a vague attach- Hispanic neighborhood would be a ment to the things of this world, and good thing for Tammy, but it merely gradually most of her clothes and Joan Trafecanty is editorial assistant in the widened the gulf between us. She was belongings were left behind in various Church and Society office, Los Angeles. She embarrassed to explain to her new temporary sanctuaries throughout the and her husband, Tony, and their five children city. Last month when I went to the live at the Los Angeles Catholic Worker, friends how she, with her Latin looks, where she co-edits the Worker paper, The had come to be in this Anglo family. She Coroner's Office to pick up the "proper- Catholic Agitator. had her joyful moments — winning a ty" that had been found on her body, it

15 seemed pathetic but fitting that there were just a few worthless trinkets. She spent a year in a juvenile proba- tion camp. It was a good time for her. A 'Weatherization Ministr controlled environment forced her to cenes from last winter: A smooth, settle down a little. She learned to like S unbroken line of tube caulk on a herself better, but even daily counseling cracked door frame and the exuberant could not help her face the pain of past smile of a retired church deacon who memories. As soon as she was released thought he was only good with words... she began to wander again. the sheen of drum-tight plastic being Our struggles with Tammy have fastened over a window by two 13-year- taught me that love is not necessarily a olds who've been intently concentrating cozy emotion, nor are painful conflicts for 20 minutes straight (unheard of even publication. always possible to resolve. One of the in basketball!) ... a single mother and vivid memories of my childhood is of learning to use six fingers at once to the occasions when my family would apply rope caulk to one of her windows reuse watch a movie or TV show in which the and laughing because there are at least for involved tribulations of the protagonists 10 other family and church members were somehow neatly and happily with her doing the same thing on a required resolved in the end. As the credits snowy afternoon . . . and a circle of flashed on the screen, my father would prayer at the end of a training session rise from his seat and inquire in a with church members spontaneously mischievous tone: "Now didn't that Permission lifting up thanks and expressing their come out all nice and tidy?" The message hope of serving others with the newly was that, in his experience, life was a lot learned abilities. DFMS. / less manageable. These glimpses of one group's experi- I suppose the wisdom of this decade ence in weatherization training reflect A tenant: "The peace I felt during the training Church would say that it would have been better the dynamics of a practical and loving session wasn't like what I usually feel working on if Tammy's existence had ended in her ministry originated in the Boston metro- jobs like that with others. No one was aware of mother's womb. But despite all the pain, politan area. It is a ministry by occupations; we could have been doctors, lawyers, or anybody, but while we worked we Episcopal I can't agree that her life was expend- Christians for Urban Justice (CUJ). were all one. Not only did we learn how to the able. I'm glad that she lived. I'm glad CUJ was founded in 1976 and moved weatherlze, but we got the right materials to of that we struggled together. The implica- to Codman Square, Dorchester, Mass, continue with our own work. Now I know I can do It myself." (Sarah Small, Roxbury, Mass.) tions of her sojourn with us will always in 1978. There it began its neighborhood haunt me. Our relationship never really ministries and helped to establish and Archives worked and perhaps never could have. maintain a Community Development seminars, internships, retreats, and

2020. But I'm ready to accept the premise that Corporation. Currently CUJ is develop- publications, CUJ teaches God's whole life's struggles seldom come out "all ing a network of over 100 inner-city concern for all of creation's reconcili- tidy." Human love frequently fails, and churches for mutual support and ation to God and to each other, justice,

Copyright sometimes we must let that failure fall Christian community development, and stewardship, healing, and the abundant into Mystery. its weatherization service has become spiritual life. At her graveside service, Father Roger an urban model for building love within Roger Dewey, CUJ's executive gently reminded us that Tammy had communities. director and president of the local suffered Christ's passion and igno- Christians for Urban Justice trains merchants' association, emphasizes that minious death and that she was now and enables churches to strengthen the "it's hard for an urban church to be most certainly resurrected with Him. needy, starting within their own church strong when so many in its congrega- "At the moment of her death, she met an families. It has begun in the area of tion are poor." "Each winter," says explosion of love." Let it be so. In her housing, especially low-cost energy Dewey, "some people in our churches own troubled way, that was what conservation; and its goal is church- go without heat or spend most of their Tammy was always searching for. • based economic development. Through money to buy fuel." Recognizing this

16 The next day the pastor of Dorchester Temple Baptist Church asked for Helps People to Save testimonies from those who had been involved in Weatherization Day. People need, CUJ has developed a program of On a given Saturday, the church's teams, spoke in praise and gratitude for 20 teaching small groups within congrega- composed of three persons, gathered at minutes. One woman told how her tions to do basic weatherization. This the church and prayed for wisdom, for husband had pitched in when a team enables them to teach the rest of their personal safety, and for their witness to visited their house. "He never attends congregation, leading to a church-wide the non-Christian members of the church," she said, "but yesterday he met Weatherization Day. families into whose apartments they some Christians who are men he could Churches are encouraged to use these were going. They reminded each other relate to." new skills as part of their youth that their work actually would be a form Others shared that they had no idea programs and adult fellowships and as a of worship. Together they sang: "We publication. how much warmth could be saved by a creative evangelistic outreach to their will work with each other. We will work

and sheet of plastic and some rope caulk. A neighborhoods. To support such actions, side by side. We will guard each one's woman said that she and her son learned CUJ has an emergency fund for assisting pride. And they will know we are

reuse enough to do work for themselves next churches in subsidizing the cost of oil or Christians by our love ..." for year. Another woman told how she first weatherization materials for their poor- It was dark by the time the last of the hesitated to use a caulking gun and then est members. Also, rooms full of groups had finished their assigned learned, doing a good job and feeling required displays at CUJ's headquarters clearly apartments, and it had begun snowing. better about herself and her abilities. explain how people can save on the cost It grew much colder that night; it was "The Weatherization Day was one small of home heating by spending time and a the first major storm of the winter. but fantastic step for our church," said little money. Exhibits include emergency Permission the Rev. Daniel Buttry, "and because and no-cost measures, low-cost options, we had the help of volunteers from insulation, furnace efficiency, insulat-

DFMS. other churches, we started building / ing window shades, shutters, passive relationships with other Christians and solar heat, and low-cost greenhouses. established a sense of family across

Church "Our hope," adds Dewey, "has con- racial lines." firmed again and again that this service will affect more than just room temper- Roger Dewey states that CUJ's

Episcopal atures, for learning stewardship at this weatherization service has brought

the level of need becomes a vital and many different groups together, includ- of liberating event." One participant, upon ing eight members of an African learning that a tube of caulk had to be Methodist Episcopal brotherhood, a punctured before it could operate, youth team from a Baptist church, a Archives exclaimed, "Oh! That's why mine never contingent from a Pentecostal denomin-

2020. worked!" Another's immediate ability ation, and many others — women and to squeeze out an even line of tube caulk men, young and old, White, Black, and amazed others working with him, and West Indian. Some have come for

Copyright then they learned that his was the information, and many others have experienced trigger-pull of a police completed two training sessions and officer. A Weatherization Day brings have gone on to organize their church's together diverse individuals, and they own weatherization efforts. experience community as one of loving For further information about CUJ's concern. A trainee: After our training, with about $30, weatherization service, readers should we turned a disaster of drafts, colds, and In preparation for their Weatheriza- enormous heating bills into a comfortable write Christians for Urban Justice, tion Day, volunteers from Dorchester home. It had sizable fuel savings after half a 563A Washington Street, Dorchester, winter. I feel I have a valuable ministry tool MA 02124. Temple Baptist Church received training that can help meet people's real needs in a from CUJ, which also helped in selecting way that complements a spiritual ministry." (Reprinted with permission from Cities apartments for the group to weatherize. (Peter Furth, Dorchester Fellowship) magazine, July I August 1982.) •

17 I

Defendants Steven Guerra and Julio Rosado with the Rt. Rev. Coleman Defendants Maria Cueto of Los Angeles and Ricardo McGehee and the Rev. Barbara Harris, chair and vice-chair of the Episcopal Romero, of Alamosa, Col. Missing from photos, Church Publishing Company. Andres Rosado of New York.

publication. Hispanics Await Jail Sentences Mary LOU and s THE WITNESS went to press, represents an effort by the Government themselves. "These people have been reuse A Judge Charles P. Sifton was to to punish the Hispanics for crimes with called to court and separated from their for impose sentences April 8 on five which they have never been charged. families and communities eight times in Hispanics declared guilty of criminal The sentence for criminal contempt is at 15 months, and this is cruel and unusual contempt for refusing to testify before a the discretion of the judge, the only limit punishment in itself," he said. required Federal Grand Jury in Brooklyn. The being "cruel and unusual punishment." The New York Times reported Feb. five include Maria Cueto, former The defense also argued that selection 17 that the Government had asked for a director of the National Commission on of an anonymous jury created the criminal contempt prosecution before a

Permission Hispanic Affairs of the Episcopal impression that the defendants them- jury "both to punish the fivefo r refusing Church, and Steven Guerra, of the selves were involved in violence, even to testify before a Grand Jury and to

DFMS. Board of Directors of the Episcopal though the criminal charge is limited to deter others from refusing to testify." / Church Pulbishing Company. refusal to testify. "They are using us to set a precedent," The Grand Jury has been convened to Judge Sifton had explained to the said Julio Rosado, a Puerto Rican Church investigate bombings perpetrated by jurors that the case "did not involve defendant who conducted his own the FALN, an alleged terrorist group, charges that the five were members of defense. "Deterrent is a term we recog- but in that process, the defendants the FALN," but even the press had nize from the nuclear lexicon. The Episcopal claim, the Grand Jury is being used in a difficulty recognizing that non-coopera- Government is not going to deter us the witch hunt to destroy all legal groups from our political beliefs. We insist that of tion with a Grand Jury is not the advocating Puerto Rican independence. equivalent of membership in the FALN. the independence of Puerto Rico is An anonymous jury — its members more properly settled in the political A headline in the New York Times Archives unknown to the defense and prosecu- arena between the U.S. Government tion as well as to the public — during the trial read, "Nameless Jurors and Puerto Ricans. The status of Puerto

2020. deliberated almost two days before Selected in Trial of 5 in FALN," and the Rico has not been juridically deter- delivering a verdict. The jury also first paragraph in a News story referred mined, and the courts are not the advised the court that they believed the to "the trial of five accused FALN framework in which to carry on the Copyright five were guilty of a "serious" crime — leaders charged with contempt for discussion." one appropriately punished by more refusing to answer Grand Jury questions Four Episcopal bishops and three lay than six months in prison. The Govern- about FALN bombings." The FBI had persons testified as character witnesses ment has announced that it is seeking issued a more damaging press release for the Hispanics during the eight-day prison sentences of 10 years, even earlier labeling the five as "the unincar- trial (see March WITNESS). though four of the five have served cerated leadership of the FALN." Some frequently asked questions previous sentences on civil contempt Defense lawyer Michael Deutsch about the case of the five and the Grand charges for a similar offense. called upon the Government during the Jury are discussed on page 19 by Defense lawyers contend that such a course of the trial to indict the de- Richard W. Gillett of the Church and heavy sentence is virtually unprece- fendants if it had evidence of criminal Society Network, Los Angeles, con- dented for criminal contempt, and wrongdoing, to allow them to defend tributing editor to THE WITNESS. •

18 Critical Questions in the Grand Jury Case

1. Why don't they talk If they don't know anything? threat to public order, lawful government and true domestic The five are deeply convinced that they are being summoned not security." as part of a good faith Investigative process but because the 3. Is Puerto Rico's Independence really a feasible option? government is using the Grand Jury against them for political That may be the wrong question in the near-term. The pertinent purposes. In their view it wants to cause a "chilling effect" upon all current questions to explore may be: What effects are the over- protest movements which advocate Independence for Puerto Rico. whelming Americanization of the economy and U.S. governmental They believe that agreeing to talk before the Grand Jury would begin presence having upon the social, economic and political life of the an open-ended questioning process leading to irreparable breaches Puerto Rican people? And, what is the impact of the increasing of trust and the engendering of suspicion and disillusionment military presence of U.S. nuclear and non-nuclear forces there? In among proponents of independence for Puerto Rico. They share the the last few years American news media have warned of sharply experience and beliefs of many minorities and many women in this rising unemployment (about 23% by official standards), growing country who have little confidence in the ability of the state's police dependency upon federal programs, and the paralyzed Puerto Rican

publication. officers to pursue Justice without regard to race, economic status, or government. They have not been as faithful in revealing that Puerto political beliefs. They remember, among other examples, Huey

and Rico is being greatly strengthened as a military "megatortress" Newton and Fred Hampton of the Black Panthers, peace activist against so-called subversive elements in the Caribbean and Central Leslie Bacon, Martin Luther King's experience with the FBI, and the America. It is against such a backdrop that the larger questions of an reuse attitudes of Congress and many other public Institutions during the historical, cultural and political colonialism — long acceptable as for McCarthy era. legitimate debate for African and Asian nations formerly attached to 2. Why Is the Grand Jury a questionable Instrument of justice? European powers — begin to present themselves in the case of the relationship of Puerto Rico to our own country. If one comes at the required The Governing Board of the National Council of Churches adopted a resolution on Grand Jury abuse in 1977. It stated In part: "Puerto Rican problem" with such questions, it Is not Inconceivable that political independence for Puerto Rico becomes a respectable "The Grand Jury is envisioned In American law as a protector of position to advocate. citizens from unwarranted prosecutions. It is for this reason that its

Permission proceedings are secret and It has compulsory process for summon- 4. Why are some In the church supporting the stand of the five? ing witnesses. However, in recent years there is evidence to indicate At the heart of the Christian gospel is the expressed concern of that its great powers have sometimes been misused to harass and divipe love for the powerless and marginated of society. Jesus had DFMS.

/ Intimidate political dissidents ... stinging criticism for those In positions of power in both church and "Congress has never given the Federal Bureau of Investigation state who used that power for their own ends. Innumerable subpoena powers, yet agents today routinely threaten uncooper- ecclesiastical pronouncements, ancient and modern, have upheld Church ative persons with subpoenas from a Grand Jury, and often Indeed this tradition. But as were the disciples in Jesus' time, so too are we serve such subpoenas upon them. slow to believe that the institutions of society are capable of crushing "It Is the Governing Board's firm conviction that the use of the dissent and maintaining the rights of the powerful. Without necessarily agreeing with every facet of their beliefs, we can Episcopal Grand Jury's powers as an Instrument of Investigation In support of law enforcement rather than as an evaluator of evidence already steadfastly uphold the position of the Grand Jury resisters, and the begin ourselves to understand the gross injustices existing In Puerto

of gathered Is a distortion of Its quasi-judicial function. The use of the Grand Jury's powers to harass and pursue political dissidents is a Rico which move them to such deep commitment. departure from Its proper constitutional function, and Is a great R.W.G. Archives 2020.

Copyright For that special college or sem- inar *~ scriDtion to Use handy insert card in this issue. WITNESS. NONPROFIT ORG. The Episcopal Church Publishing Company U.S. POSTAGE P.O. Box 359 PAID Ambler, Pennsylvania 19002 North Wales , Pa. Permit No. 121 Address Correction Requested publication. and reuse for SPECIAL OFFER TO WITNESS READERS required Order Must We Choose Sides, or Which Side Are We On, market — dealing with Christian Commitment for the two of the best-selling Study Action Guides on the 1980s - for only $5.00 and save up to $1.95. Permission

Must We Choose Sides?

DFMS. 1979, 127pp. $5.95 / Explores the role of working people in our economic system. Investigates harsh

Church realities of everyday life. Who owns America? Who pays the price? Six comprehensive sessions help readers examine class backround and the myths Episcopal of capitalism. Group exercises probe the individual experience and insight, apply Which Side Are We On? of tools of social analysis while engaging in 1980,172 pp. $6.95 theological reflection. Deepens understanding of the present crisis — inflation, unemployment, the

Archives danger of war. Moves beyond historical critique of capitalism to explore other

2020. alternatives. Raises questions for Christian activists. Can we reclaim our radical heritage? How do we confront political and religious ideology? Seven Copyright in-depth sessions for group study and action.

Yes, I want to take advantage of your special offer. Please send me the book(s) Name. I have checked at $5.00 each. Payment is enclosed. Address. • Must We Choose Sides City State. .Zip. •Which Side Are We On

(Fill out and mail today to THE WITNESS, Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002.