Battered by the Storm

Check out the recent study by the Institute for Policy Studies on the the effects of the current economic crisis, "Battered by the Storm: How the Safety Net Is Failing Americans and How to Fix It" at http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/battered-by-the-storm.

A Bold Plan to Combat Poverty

U.S. Census data released today shows the burden of the Great Recession has fallen mostly on those at the bottom. The data reveals that the U.S. in 2009 had the largest number of Americans living in poverty in the 51 years that poverty has been measured, 43.6 million people, and the highest poverty rate, 14.3% since 1998.

Institue for Policy Studies Fellow Karen Dolan, urges policymakers and those concerned about growing poverty to read the recommendations in IPS's report "Battered by the Storm," which warned about these massive increases in poverty and put forth common-sense solutions to alleviate it.

Dolan says, "This new data reveals our nation's inability to respond to the profound needs of a growing number of Americans falling precipitously through a badly tattered safety net. We must act quickly to stop the devastation that will affect generations to come."

To read more, go to the website for the Institue for Policy Studies at http://www.ips-dc.org/

Hope for the City - Pathways to Restoration

This weekend, over 100 church and community leaders and seminarians gathered at the Maritime Institute of Technology in Linthicum, MD for the Baltimore Region's second annual Hope for the City Urban Ministry Convocation. Our focus was on exploring ways to expand capcity in collaboration and partnership in urban ministry, as we seek to restore the proverbial village that is the city. Dr. Robert Franklin, in his latest book "Crisis in the Village", offers that several strategic steps must be employed in order for the village to be renewed and restored. These steps are:
(1) Focused Conversation
(2) Collaborative Leadership
(3) Vision and Planning
(4) Accountability and Action
(5) Sustaining and Fundraising
(6) Documenting and Celebrating Progress.

The Power of Partnership

“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)

Some of the most significant aspects and opportunities that we share in ministry are found in the ways that we engage in partnership, collaboration, and teamwork.

In ancient Greek literature there is a story that shows the power of working together.

“An aged, dying father called his seven sons around him. He gave each one a stick and told them to break it. Each son easily broke his separate stick. The old father then bound seven sticks together, and gave the bundle to his eldest son and told him to break the bundle. The eldest son could not break it. Then the second son was commanded to try. He could not break it. Nor could any of the rest. “So is it to be of you,” said the father. “Alone you are weak, but together you are strong.”

This is the nature of synergism. It is derived from the Greek word “synergos” meaning “working together.” Synergism means that by joining with others, common objectives can be more easily and effectively accomplished. There is strength in numbers when we multiply our efforts through working with others.

Hurricane Katrina and Urban Poverty

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast region and left over 1,800 persons dead in several states. Over 1,400 of those who died were from New Orelans with the majority being from the Lower 9th Ward. Among other things, Hurricane Katrina shed light on the dimensions of urban poverty. One of the poorest areas of New Orleans, persons in the lower 9th Ward were disproporionately affected by the Hurricane. Today, many remain dispplaced or continue to live in temporary trailors.

The Meaning of King's Dream

Yesterday, August 28, 2010, marked the 47th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's the now-famous "I Have a Dream" speech rendered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. On yesterday, two rallies were held in Washington, led by persons with very obvious competing interests and interpretations of King's message in 1963 and throughout his life. One of the rallies was organized and led by Glen Beck (conservative talk-show host) and Sarah Palin (former candidate for vice president and a leader of the "tea party" movement) - with the theme "Restoring Honor." The other, with theme, "Reclaiming the Dream", was organized and led by progressive activist, Rev. Al Sharpton. This beckons us to reflect upon the meaning of King's Dream for us today. One of the speakers at Sharpton's rally was Christian social ethicist, Dr. Robert Franklin, now the president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where Dr. King completed his undergraduate studies. Dr. Franklin shared in his remarks that all of those who are interested in King's dream (including Mr. Beck, Ms. Palin and members of the "tea party") might do well to visit Morehouse College where many of the spiritual and intellectual foundations of King's dream were shaped and molded. At its very foundation, King's dream (and his life's work) was rooted in justice - which is both social and political. He stated on more than one occasion that the "arc of the universe is wide - and it always bends toward justice." For King, justice pertains to the moral order of the universe, and is God's divine intent for all humanity. Justice is intended to be pervasive, and involves economic justice (which addresses poverty, inequality and exploitation), racial justice, gender justice, justice for children, justice for those without health care, and just peacemaking (as an alternative to war). Forty-seven years after King heeded the encouragement of Ms. Mahalia Jackson and told us his dream, perhaps yesterday's gatherings should give each of us the impetus to pause and reflect upon the real meaning of King's dream for us - and how after reading his dream and studying his life, each of us might seek to live out justice in our midst.

Hate Crime in the City

Recently, there has been a rise in the incidence of violent crimes directed toward Hispanic men in Baltimore - including the murder of two men in East Baltimore. Police offcials have determined that one of the murders appears to have been a hate crime. We are reminded again that hatred and violence anywhere is a threat to love and peace everywhere.