Congregation-Based Community Organizing

Presentation by Paul Cromwell

FOCO and ECON

May 2015

Background and Recent Developments• May, 2014 ECON Visit with Declan Murphy, US Catholic

Bishops Conference, Washington DC, USA• September, 2014 ECON Presentation to 25 CEE Catholic

Bishops, Gaming, Austria• November, 2014 US Catholic Bishops Funding for In Our

Town Project, CKO, Banska Bystrica Slovakia• February, 2015 Paul Cromwell presentations with

Catholic Diocese and Caritas of Moldova (3 cities with approximately 30 priests, lay leaders, and Caritas workers), meeting with Orthodox Diakonie• March, 2015 Paul Cromwell training with Caritas Albania

(25 persons from 6 regional offices)• Other: Germany Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland,

German Caritas, Lithuanian Bishops and Staff, Renovabis, etc.

Background and Recent Developments

Why an “Organization of Organizations”

Organization of Organizations = religious congregations, NGOs, clubs and associations, etc. are primary members. Can also include individual members.• Existing “community” and network of

relationships and resources• Ability of one organizer to mobilize more

persons

Why CO with Religious Congregations

• Networks of relationships beyond the local congregation – diocese, district, regional, national, international• Explicit set of values• Understanding of organizational structure• Resources 1. Membership dues from the local congregations 2. US Catholic Bishops CEE Fund 3. German Catholic Renovabis Fund 4. US Congregations – “adopt an organizer” 5. Caritas and Diakonie – local, regional, national

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and Theological Teachings – a Few Examples

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and Theological Teachings – a Few Examples

Catholic Social Teachings (A Civilization of Love: The Catholic Vision for Human Society, William Newton, 2011)Various Themes• Human Rights• Democracy• Fair Wages• Peace• The Environment• Liberation

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and Theological Teachings – a Few ExamplesTheologian Robert Linthicum: Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community, Robert Linthicum, 2003

The church • In•To•With the community

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and Theological Teachings – a Few Examples

• Martin Luther King: The importance of building power“Power, properly understood, is the ability to achieve purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, political, or economic changes. In this sense power is not only desirable but necessary in order to implement the demands of love and justice.One of the greatest problems of history is that the concepts of love and power are usually contrasted as polar opposites. Love is identified with a resignation of power and power with a denial of love…What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”• Martin Luther King 1967: Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or

Community?

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and Theological Teachings – a Few Examples

Quotes of Pope Francis• “We are the guardians of creation.”• “In the poor and outcast, we see the face of

Christ.”• “No one is excluded from life’s hope, from God’s

love.”• His speaking out on climate change, the need for

immigration reform, paying attention to the poor, etc.

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and Theological Teachings – a Few Examples

Martin Buber and the Power of RelationshipsThere was a famous Jewish theologian, Martin Buber, who was once asked, “Where is God?” His answer was not, “God is everywhere,” or “God is found in churches and synagogues.” Rather, Buber answered that God is found in relationships. God is not found in people; God is found between people. When you and I are truly attuned to each other, God comes down and fills the space between us so that we are connected, not separated. • Harold Kushner, Living A Life That Matters, 2002

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and the Bible – a Few Examples

Organizing for a Better Community

Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you and pray on its behalf, for on its welfare your welfare will be found. Jeremiah 27:7

Golden rule and the importance of self-interest

Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31

Speaking the Language of the Church – Community Organizing and the Bible – a Few Examples

Nehemiah (5:6-13) and a Public Meeting Action6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Strategies for Doing Community Organizing with Religious Congregations• Taking upfront time to build relationships with and among

pastors and other church leaders – pastor is the “door opener” to his/her congregation/parish

• Understanding church structures – Who is connected to whom? Who and how are decisions made? How are the structures of Islamic, Catholic, Orthodox, and various Protestant religious congregations and confessions different?

• Doing common listening processes1. To identify active participants and issues for community

problems and visions2. To identify ways of strengthen the internal life of the

congregation• Adding a “Pastors Caucus” to the Organizational Structure

References

• Renovabis, Munich, Germany1. Website in German: https://www.renovabis.de/ 2. PDF Information in English: https://

www.renovabis.de/sites/default/files/upload/2013_kurzinfo_englisch.pdf

• US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC, USA1. Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe:

http://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/central-and-eastern-europe/index.cfm

2. Grant Information and Access to Grant Application: http://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/central-and-eastern-europe/grants/index.cfm