I get hopeful. And then defeated. And then hopeful, and then defeated. But my constant source of support is my local congregation. They know me, just as I am.
The Church in a time of Crisis
What do people in your church say about your church? When thinking about what is happening around us we rightfully look for ways to intervene. Because the harm is in the political arena we think of protests and votes and contacting political leadership. All of these are part of the work of church. We proclaim good news by protecting the common good.
But one of the most significant ways of being church is to care for those who are being abused by the present administration. In Acts Acts 9:36-43 the plot line is about the disciples ability to raise Tabitha from the dead. There is an even more powerful message in the character development: Tabitha and the the widows are doing good works and charity. This is not a side task for the early church, it is essential to who they are. Several non-Christian writers from that time seem to know the church only as caring for the stranger. They refer to early church derisively as gullible and easily infiltrated, because of our reputation for care of outsiders. It was this care of others, not Peter's preaching, that is noticed by non-Christians.
And right now there are many people to care for. Make sure your meal programs and pantries are accessible to federal workers whose jobs are in limbo. Figure out now how to ramp up what you are offering in the face of possible future layoffs, perhaps finding new ways to promote your program to a new group of people. Get to know these community members and ask them how best to meet their needs.
Consider collaborating with your senior center or other programs for the elderly in order to help people deal with reduced social security and medicare benefits, or missed checks. Strategize now for how to connect people to health care, or to subsidize the cost. If you have some good administrators in your congregation, consider how to be available to sit with someone to do paperwork, make phone calls, and make visits in order to restore shut-off benefits. It takes a special skill to get through phone trees and wait on hold.
Perhaps your congregation can contact your local school to provide help with services for students with disabilities. Much of that funding comes from state and federal programs and the school is likely to be scrambling to meet the students needs. What they may need now is phone calls to political leaders to protect those programs, but if the funding is removed they will need help staffing the program itself. In addition to providing volunteers, churches with endowments might want to consider what sort of funding you can provide. Don't hold too tightly to money meant for a rainy day. It is raining, storming, flooding.
Care for the family members of those students with disabilities. People with autism and parents of children with autism are terrified of being put on a list. Everyone who is losing educational benefits are afraid of how our children will keep up. It was not that long ago that we simply didn't provide education for people with disabilities, it is hard to imagine why we would go back to that, but it is realistic to assume it might happen. Churches can be places that provide support for those families--political networking support, but also a listening ear.
The attacks on trans kids and adults are somewhat out of the news because of all the other chaos. But their hurting is still active, and much of the work of oppression is being acted out by local school boards. Being a loving voice at those meetings is important, but also find out if you can provide space for meetings, pizza for socials, and more listening and hand holding. Build relationships now in preparation for times that will get harder.
As always, start with the people you know. The basic work of community organizing is simple -- meet with people you know, listen to what is important for them, and ask them who else you should meet with. As your circle expands, connect one person with another with the same interests. Listen for people's passions, and when that matches the church's passion, find a way to make it a reality. Ashburnham Community Church started Rainbow Senior Dinners because a woman we met wanted a meal closer to our town. Getting volunteers was made easy because of the people she knew. Now she is in charge. The church expanded who we know by being willing to be the helpers (and funders) rather than the leaders of the program.
It certainly is wild that the disciples can raise Tabitha from the dead. It is even more important that she, and the widows, were out caring for the community.
Who is your church caring for? Who are you most worried about? What are the ways your congregation is known in your town or neighborhood?
The definitive guide to food pantries and meal programs is my book Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Volunteers: Growing a Relational Food Ministry. If you don't mind my self promotion! The idea is that the purpose of food programs is to build relationships, something churches do well. Build relationships by inviting everyone to be volunteers.
Toledo Ohio had a name change clinic for trans and non-binary people. This is the kind of thing that a church could be a great support -- someone else sets up the legal resources, and the church provides handholding, rituals for change, and reminds people of God's blessing on them.
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