http://www.firstchurchboston.org/eeuploads/sermons/Making_Change_Happen_a_sermon_by_Robert_Schmalz.pdf
We are living in the midst of change. One of the presidential candidates has as his theme, “Change we can believe in”. But is it enough for change to occur in top leadership? I would argue that systemic change will only happen when it occurs at the grass roots level of society. The question is: How do we as individuals, and as members of First Church in Boston, help to make that change happen?
My wife and I were in Athens, Greece, last Fall where we visited the Agora. This was the setting for ancient Athenian Democracy. All citizens shared in the making of policy and leadership responsibility rotated regularly amongst all of them. We are a long way from Athenian Democracy in 21st century Boston, but is there a way to replicate the shared responsibility of government? I think there is!
In April, ten members of First Church attended a workshop sponsored by the Massachusetts District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The topic was “Congregation-based Community Organizing.” We in this church are familiar with “congregation-based community organizing” as a model for doing social justice. We are a fully-participating member of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). What is unique about this model?
First, it is an organization of institutions – not individuals. These institutions are primarily faith-based institutions – churches, societies, synagogues, temples and mosques. They represent a wide diversity of the faith communities in Boston –Protestants, Roman Catholics, Reformed and Orthodox Jewish Synagogues and Temples, Mosques and, of course, Unitarian Universalist Churches. There is also a wide diversity of races and ethnic backgrounds: Afro-Americans, Haitians, Cape Verdeans, whites and Hispanics. It truly represents what many call the “New Boston”.
Being involved in the process of community organizing can help our church answer pressing questions of love and power. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,“There is nothing wrong with power if power is used correctly … the problem is that concepts of power and love are usually seen as opposites … but power without love is reckless and abusive. Love without power is sentimental and anemic.” This model of organizing also holds great potential for deepening congregational involvement in social justice. It provides an excellent opportunity for members of First Church, as part of this process, to listen to one another’s life stories and build strong new relationships across the barriers that normally keep people apart. This results in a sustained involvement over time on many issues which concern the member institutions and the community at large.
At our District meeting in April we explored the theological grounding in Unitarian Universalism for “congregation-based community organizing”. First Church is committed to working for social justice. We adhere to the second principle of Unitarian Universalism, “to affirm or promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations” which offers a means to be part of the restorative work to which people of faith are called. By being in a right relationship with people outside our own congregation we can together address the ills of society.
The basis for ‘congregation-based community organizing is building relationships and trust. This is done by sharing life stories – sometimes one-to-one, but also in small house meetings or listening circles. This is an opportunity to share stories – to learn what is in each of our hearts and what we want our world to be. Let me share my story with you.
Many of you know I was raised in a parsonage. Yes – I am a P.K. - a preacher’s kid. For several years in the 1930’s my father was Associate Director of the Council for Social Action for the Congregational Christian denomination – now the United Church of Christ. His duties required him to travel around the country organizing Social Justice committees in each visited church and encouraging their interest in participating in the political life of their communities to further the causes of social justice. I learned several years ago, that 80% of the members of Congregational Christian churches voted for Alf Landon in the Roosevelt landslide of 1936. what a tough job my father was trying to do !!
Through the magic of the Internet my son, Peter, was able to acquire a pamphlet on How to Establish a Social Justice Committee to help churches focus attention on social justice issues. This pamphlet was authored by my father in 1938 – some 70 years ago. You might say that I have in me the DNA for social justice committee work. I have been pleased to be co-chair of our Social Justice Committee over the last five years – first with Paul Wendelgass and now with Daphne Thompson-Addabbo.
For some 40 years – when my wife and I lived in New Haven, Connecticut and raise our family there, I was heavily engaged in civic activities and involved in social justice issues. For example, I was on the Board of Commissioners for the New Haven Housing Authority. Later I was one of the founders and an officer of the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund which loaned money for development of affordable housing. For most of this period I was the lawyer for the New Samaritan Corporation, the housing entity for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, which developed housing for the elderly and family housing throughout Connecticut. After years of negotiating with government I decided to get inside that sector to, hopefully, have a greater impact for change.
In 1993 I was elected to the Board of Aldermen for the City of New Haven and served for eight years. I was pleased to work with a coalition of younger colleagues to pass a Living Wage Ordinance for New Haven – the second city in the country to do so – to guarantee fair wages would be paid to employees of companies contracting to do business with the city. As Chairman of the Community Development Committee of the Board of Aldermen, I supervised the allocation of federal grants for distribution to community organizations. This was a contentious process each year as I sought to establish a standard of merit for such awards rather that political pressure. Through these experiences I determined that what was missing in the political process was a broad-based organization advocating for the interests of the poor and oppressed on a sustained basis.
In the fall of 2001 Annie and I moved to Boston. She is a born Unitarian Universalist and I wanted a church that was committed to social justice. We settled on First Church as our choice and we are so happy that we did. I joined the Social Justice Committee, which was then led by Becky Richardson. Now there is a person committed to social justice!
I heard that First Church was considering joining the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, which it did one year later. Through our involvement in GBIO we have been able to participate in a number of important campaigns to bring change through the political process in favor of greater justice in the lives of many citizens of Massachusetts.
Affordable Housing- establishment of the Trust Fund
Debts-to-Assets – teaching financial literacy to those in debt
Massachusetts Healthcare Reform
Eldercare options to enable the elderly to age with dignity at home
Workers rights for Nursing Home Employees
The record is a good one and First Church has been an active participant in these successes.
Last month sixteen of us from First Church attended the Tenth Year Anniversary of the founding of GBIO. It was an exciting occasion with the recognition of the founding leaders, a review of past successes and the reporting on the agenda for the future. By their attendance Governor Patrick, Speaker DiMasi and Mayor Menino recognized the power of GBIO to effect systemic change in the City and Commonwealth. All recognized the important role played by GBIO in the adoption of the healthcare legislation which has enabled over 350,000 previously uninsured to become insured.
In the months ahead GBIO will be focused on three areas: first is the implementation of Healthcare Reform. As the New York Times stated in last Monday’s editorial, “the Massachusetts legislation is the model for the nation for universal healthcare.” But there are challenges ahead in order to reduce the cost of healthcare and to cover the over 300,000 who still are uninsured. The second area is Youth and Public Safety. Our Youth need to be protected from violence. And the third area is Eldercare. We must better help our elders age with dignity. For these and other issues GBIO and its member congregations will be there, First Church among them.
But most important to me that night of the anniversary celebration
was who was in Case Gymnasium of Boston University. There were over 1700 leaders from 65 faith communities. The diversity was clearly visible and the energy level was palpable. We were led in prayer by a Muslim Imam, a Roman Catholic Priest and a Jewish Rabbi. Rev. Rosemary Lloyd represented First Church in the role call. Where else in Boston would a group of this diversity gather to do ‘the people’s business’? I believe that in many ways this replicates the public witness of the citizens of ancient Athens in the Agora.
We intend to deepen First Church’s relationship with GBIO in the months ahead. In September we will be having a retreat for our leaders. Later we will be holding a series of listening circles which will provide an opportunity for everyone to learn more about GBIO and how this church can become more involved in community-wide efforts to address the causes and consequences of poverty and systemic oppression. You are all invited to participate !!
Our former intern, now the Rev. Rebekah Ingram – reminded us last January of the words of the Reverend Theodore Parker – a prophetic Unitarian minister in the 1860’s. He said, “The arc of history bends towards justice.” Let us be a part of that “arc of justice” in the work of this church.
May it be so!
