wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 481

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Reply-to: owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)
"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (489
notes).

Note 487 by UMNS on Dec. 3, 1997 at 15:43 Eastern (3750 characters).

ITLE: IFCO, Interreligious Organization, Turns 30

CONTACT: Linda Bloom							  675(10-71B){487}
	    New York (212) 870-3803					Dec. 3, 1997

After 30 years, IFCO
still going strong

	NEW YORK (UMNS) -- An interfaith advocacy organization which grew out of the
race riots of the 1960s is still going strong 30 years later as it tackles
issues ranging from the trade embargo against Cuba to incidents of police
brutality.
	United Methodist involvement in the Interreligious Foundation for Community
Organization (IFCO) has been significant, according to the Rev. Schuyler
Rhodes, pastor of Washington Square United Methodist Church in New York and
chairperson of its board of directors.
	"What's special about IFCO is that it is fundamentally a grass roots
organization." he said.
	 Whether working with Alabama farmers or inner-city youth, IFCO has become
"an empowerment movement to really help people do what they need to do,"
Rhodes added.
	In 1967, a group of concerned clergy and lay community activists created IFCO
as a resource center for mainline religious groups interested in helping
disadvantaged communities develop their own grassroots organizations.
	The first special project, Operation Connections, brought together
representatives of people's organizations, corporations, churches and
political leaders to work on nonviolent resolution of problems facing America.
IFCO also became the first national source of funds for organizations such as
the American Indian Movement and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee.
	In past years, IFCO has organized:
	* the National Black Economic Development Conference, which produced the
"Black Manifesto" and stimulated critical discussion about the church's
responsibility to black America;
	* the National Black United Fund, a self-help tool for economic empowerment;
	* the Ecumenical Minority Bail Bond Fund, which offers assistance to people
of color facing political harassment;
	* the National Anti-Klan Network (now the Center for Democratic Renewal),
which investigates hate crimes, church burnings and racist violence.
	IFCO also provides support to a variety of community-based organizations and
projects. Current projects include education and advocacy for Haitian
refugees, urban youth activism on social issues, health advocacy for gays and
lesbians of color, protests of police brutality and freedom for U.S. political
prisoners.
	"In what often feels like an environment of despair and cynicism ... to me,
IFCO is really a bright, shining star of hope," Rhodes said.
	The organization is involved with global issues as well. One project, Pastors
for Peace, was created after IFCO's executive director, the Rev. Lucius
Walker, was injured in an attack on a passenger ferry by contra forces in
Nicaragua in 1988. Pastors for Peace is designed to educate U.S. citizens
about the impact of U.S. foreign policy and support the victims of "low
intensity" warfare.
	Through Pastors for Peace, caravans of humanitarian aid have been delivered
to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico. Since 1992, seven
caravans have been delivered to Cuba as part of a challenge to the U.S.
economic blockade of that country.
	Rhodes was one of the drivers in the first Pastors for Peace caravan for
Nicaragua in 1988, which provided 40 tons of material aid. His current
congregation has been involved in ministry to Christians in Cuba -- work which
he attributed to IFCO's influence.
	At an Oct. 31 IFCO anniversary dinner, the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries and Board of Church and Society were among those recognized for
their contributions.
	Rhodes said he was struck at that dinner by "the wonderful coming together of
different cultures" which IFCO represents.
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