Source:  Institute on Religion and Democracy

March 3, 2010

By Jeff Walton

This is part of a series of three articles about the 2010 Episcopal Urban Caucus Assembly. For coverage of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship luncheon and non-union contractor controversy at the Episcopal Church Center, click here. For coverage of events surrounding the anti-violence theme, click here.

Concerned about decline in their churches and neighborhoods but hopeful about the future, a small but influential caucus of clergy and laity from urban Episcopal parishes met in Chicago February 24-27.

The Episcopal Urban Caucus (EUC), founded in 1980, commemorated its 30th year of advocacy in the denomination. Consisting of about 130 members, the caucus exercises an outsized pull in the church, promoting liberal politics and, occasionally, revisionist theology. The caucus has a long and successful record of submitting resolutions at General Convention, in partnership with the larger progressive umbrella group called the Consultation. In 2009, almost every political resolution introduced by the group was adopted.

Urban Struggles

Meeting under the theme “Anti-violence: Keeping our Kids Alive,” the caucus focused much of its assembly on gun violence and the challenges of urban ministry. The Rev. Susan Russell of the Diocese of Los Angeles described the afflictions as “a multiplicity of interlocking oppressions.”

In response to an invitation by Episcopal Network for Economic Justice Coordinator Martha Gardner, several caucus members took brief turns speaking to the assembly about how churches in the city were surviving.

Caucus members spoke of “too many dioceses” closing parish churches, with the Detroit-area Diocese of Michigan singled out for folding five congregations.

One young vicar shared her story of recently taking over the leadership of St. Luke’s Church in Baltimore, a 900-seat church with 21 congregants. The vicar shared that the church was attempting to redevelop itself in order to serve the large number of children in the neighborhood.

The struggle to maintain buildings with large expenses was shared by several caucus members. One noted that “churches in the city learned to live without money long ago,” by making ends meet through volunteers and donated supplies.

Another discussed involvement with the Living Stones Partnership, a group within the denomination that encourages the formation of volunteer-led ministry teams. The partnership originated in rural areas but now sees its mission needed in cities. . .

Read the entire article here. 

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