[Dialogue] congregation-based community organizing

[Janice Ulangca]

Hello Martin,

For three years I worked locally - as a volunteer site coordinator - with Communities of Shalom. This is a United Methodist initiative of faith-based  community development begun in 1992 in response to the (Los Angeles) Watts riots.  My understanding is that one of the bishops who began the program was familiar with Fifth City.  (I think it was Felton May.) The web site says the program now operates in more than 200 sites in the USA and two countries in Africa, with a commitment to spiritual renewal, congregational development, economic development, health, and strengthening race and class relationships.  In each location it involves a United Methodist congregation, but has an ecumenical/interfaith spirit and seeks to involve all faith communities in and around the limited geographical area selected for service.

I found the training to be excellent.  It's based on the Asset-Based Community Development concept developed at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and the Shalom training has permission to use their materials.  The first thing you do is to map the assets of your selected geographically-limited area.  It is always surprising how many are there.  This gives a tone to the whole process that can reveal more possibilities than if you started with the problems.  Each Shalom site comes out of the training with an action plan.  At least in the USA, a minimum of three and a maximum of six congregations (at least one United Methodist), must have a commitment from their governing boards to the principles of the program before training can be arranged in an area.  The training was free, but required the commitment of at least 6 people from each congregation when we had our training in 2002.  We also sought to involve neighborhood leaders, people from agencies, and anyone else interested.
>From the web site:  "The Communities of Shalom initiative was begun by The United Methodist Church to empower congregations to become catalysts for significant transformation of their communities. It is based upon the biblical concept of shalom, the Hebrew word commonly translated "peace" but more accurately understood as a realm of harmony, peace, prosperity, health and wholeness. Through the initiative congregations are trained to collaborate with community groups and institutions in developing a practical strategy to achieve a unique vision of shalom in their neighborhood."

More information - Google Communities of Shalom.

Janice Ulangca

Why am I not still working with Communities of Shalom?  There are people at the national level and in some localities who are doing a good job.  The problem is on-going support that was not there in our conference, after the initial excitement and vision of the program.  Remaneuvering, ongoing re-energizing and training, were not there.  It became too exhausting to try to provide all that as an individual.  I'm working with other local ecumenical efforts through our Council of Churches that are more viable.  And these days I'm working a lot with the Living Legacy planning team, for the sake of the future of  the heritage that I draw on constantly.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Martin Gilbraith (ICA:UK) 
  To: Dialogue at wedgeblade.net ; ustoptrainers at ica-topnet.org ; globaltoptrainers at ica-topnet.org 
  Cc: DMca123 at aol.com 
  Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 4:40 AM
  Subject: [Dialogue] congregation-based community organizing


  Dear all,  

  Do any of our colleagues in the US have any experience of "congregation-based 
  community organizing"?   

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