wfn.org | [ENS] Episcopal Urban Caucus explores example of urban renewal

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

March 24, 2005 -- Thursday Thesis: Meeting People of Purpose

Episcopal Urban Caucus explores example of urban renewal

By Daphne Mack

[ENS] Signs of a national urban renewal movement are visible in the
greater
Newark area, New Jersey historian Dr. Clement Price said during a
keynote
address at the 25th annual assembly of the Episcopal Urban Caucus (EUC)
February 24.

Gathering under the theme "Returning to Our Roots: American Cities in an
Age
of Globalization" members of the EUC met in Newark, New Jersey, to
celebrate
a milestone of work and to discuss ways in which urban communities can
be
better served, especially in reaching out to the poor and oppressed.

Faith-based community

"Cities are havens for the socially marginalized, but are also beacons
of
hope," said Price, professor of History and chair of the Afro-American
Studies Department at Rutgers University. "Newark is also a city that
has
survived more than a generation of constant bombardment of negative
imagery...and is now considered one of the most interesting places in
New
Jersey."

Price acknowledged the assistance of the Faith-based community in
"boosting"
the placement of the performing arts council in Newark. "Culture and
social
economic class are being bridged through Newark's Art Council and
attention
is now being paid to their public schools," he said.

Archdeacon Michael Kendall of the Diocese of New York said that concern
for
cities and for "the urban agenda has diminished in 25 years," using
President Bush's 2006 federal budget proposal as an example.

Kendall, one of EUC's pioneers, said that the Episcopal Church and all
people of faith need to come together when addressing urban issues.

Lynn Grifo, associate coordinator for the Episcopal Church's Office of
Ministry Development, said her office is currently in conversation with
a
group of urban clergy who want to do some leadership training. "We will
assist them with a little bit of funding and moral support and in any
other
way we can," she said.

Participants were also invited to join one of five Urban Concerns
Learning
Tracks that covered economic justice, education, immigration,
restorative
justice and the environment.

"The site visits planned for the environmental track were invaluable to
really understanding what environmental justice is all about," said
Martha
Gardner, consultant for the Episcopal Church's environmental ministries.
"What we saw was the fact that it's the poorer, more vulnerable
communities
which are disproportionately affected by the placement of incinerators
and
the like; the health of the people of these communities has been
severely
impacted."

Gardner said that by getting on a bus and actually seeing what's
happening,
"the statistics now have a face on them and the urgency for action and
advocacy becomes more real."

She added that organizations like GreenFaith
(http://www.greenfaith.org),
which make the connection between our faith and the environment and
provide
positive alternatives, "are critical to resolving the environmental
crisis."

Youth were empowered through a youth track on immigration and they
visited
New York's Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to learn about the
journeys
and experiences of indigenous people. They also explored issues of
economic
justice, literacy and health.

The EUC was formed in January 1980 out of a series of national hearings
--
one of which took place in Newark -- which determined the church's
agenda
was to stand with minorities and the poor.

--Daphne Mack is staff writer for Episcopal News Service.

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