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United Methodist leaders seek ways to help in Louisiana

Nov. 2, 2005

NOTE: Photographs and audio are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS) - The shiny new neighborhood is flat, dusty and
cramped. On the freshly scrapped ground are rows of white trailers
stretched out in neat rows as far as the eye can see.

What is missing are trees, green grass, playgrounds, easy access to
everyday essentials such as a grocery store or any other form of what
makes a neighborhood comfortable.

"If you want to know what we need, it is housing, housing, housing,"
said Becky Reiners, representative of the Catholic Community Services,
speaking to officials from the United Methodist Church who came to the
state looking for ways to help in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita.

The Rev. Larry Pickens, top executive with the United Methodist
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns; Clare
Chapman, Donald Hayashi and the Rev. W. Douglas Mills, members of his
staff; and the Rev. Chester Jones, top executive with the Commission on
Religion and Race, met with Louisiana religious leaders Oct. 28.

"We are aware of the issues of race and class which bubbled up as
reality and we want to expose ourselves to the stories," Pickens told
the group. "We want to think in terms of how to respond ecumenically."

FEMA has set up trailer communities in one of the smaller rural areas
outside Baton Rouge for evacuees from the hurricanes. "These trailers
are not a true long-term option," said Nakeisha Robertson, a
representative of Louisiana Interfaiths Together, a statewide program
that is part of the PICO National Network. "Evacuees are being put into
places without true public transportation and not enough resources to
sustain them."

"The truth is, urban people don't like living in trailer parks," added
the Rev. Robin McCullough-Bade, Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Baton
Rouge, La. Most of the thousands living in these trailer parks are from
New Orleans.

Creative and respectful ways to respond to the newest residents in Baton
Rouge and surrounding cities was a concern expressed by all the leaders.
"Baton Rouge inherited the poor people of New Orleans," Reiners said.
"We need to be creative in how we house people coming to us and to do it
in an appropriate, respectful way."

The Louisiana religious leaders expressed frustration and fatigue but
also a passion for the new residents in their cities. Baton Rouge's
population has increased by 200,000, a growth rate that would normally
take 15 years to occur. Other parishes around the state have had similar
population explosions.

Schools are overflowing, roads are clogged, stores are packed and city
services are overwhelmed.

"We are in need of your prayers," said the Rev. Jeff Day, representative
of the Greater Baton Rouge Federation of Churches and Synagogues.

The Rev. Dan Krutz, a representative of the Louisiana Interchurch
Conference, told the United Methodists that their presence was needed
and welcomed.

"We are so grateful you came, your feedback is very important," Krutz
said. "The clarity from those outside the state is helpful. The United
Methodist Church should see their members here as an investment that
will constantly need to be reinvested in."

Pickens raised the question, "How can we all be represented at the table
when rebuilding begins?"

"We don't have a clear picture of that yet but we need to keep the
question open," responded Krutz. "Decisions are being made and often
those making decisions are secretive and devilish."

The Rev. Herman Kelly, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal
Church, said churches have been on the frontlines in responding to the
tragedy and churches need to be watchful of what decisions are being
made.

"God is holding us accountable," he said.

The Rev. Francis Williams, pastor of Butler's African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church, Amite, La., said his heart breaks for the
thousands who have lost everything.

"We shouldn't be able to sleep in our comfortable homes and beds until
everyone is back in a comfortable home."

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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