Faithful Philly Forum

In recent weeks, Penn students could find members of the “World Mission Society Church of God” walking about the campus to let students know about their beliefs. Such events bring up an interesting talking point: “How are we as Christians to evangelize or to engage in mission?”  One thing I’ve learned is that mission can be or should be synonymous with dialog.  We have to be willing to listen to people and not only listen, but to learn as well.  In doing so, we will find ourselves and our faith enriched.  So often we get caught up trying to teach and preach to everyone, but this is a completely narrow way to go about mission work.  Of course we can still proclaim our beliefs, but we should also keep in mind the validity of the religion of others as well.  One question that I want to end with is offered by Paul Knitter (a professor at Union Theological Seminary), “Does Jesus have to be solely or only in order to be truly?”

For those of you who were unable to attend the MLK conversation on Monday, I would like to recap what went on.   Dr. King’s speech given at Riverside Church in New York was played.  For me, it seemed as though the places Dr. King said “Vietnam” could have been replaced with “Iraq” and “Communism” replaced by “Terrorism” to speak to us today.  Rev. Fernandez explained how he got to know Dr. King and arrange the speech given at Riverside.  Both Rev. Fernandez and Dr. Stephen Ray were prompt at answering the array of questions, which were raised after the speech.   Personal questions about Martin Luther King, Jr. were asked, such as, “Toward the end of his life, wasn’t Dr. King reconsidering non-violent action?”   There were also questions concerned about the continuation of US empire today and why  things haven’t changed.   The forum proved to be an enlightening event for all those in attendance.  If you’ve never listened to Dr. King’s “Riverside” speech, I would encourage you to do so if you have the chance.

As many folks in Center City know, there’s a lot of sketchy activities occurring in the Gayborhood (centering around 12th and Spruce).  Bill Golderer, the minister at Broad Street Ministries, is doing what he can to help combat some of the violence and illegal acts around there by hosting monthly dinner parties to which all neighborhood residents are invited.

“One guy I know calls them ‘The world’s most dangerous dinner parties.’”

That guy probably got his inspiration from observing rough-hewn, streetwise souls breaking bread alongside Union League types at dozens of candlelit tables with live piano music playing softly in the background. Which is basically what Golderer’s chow-downs look like.

But his friend’s line notwithstanding, Golderer, a Yale Divinity School graduate, hopes the dinners help make the Gayborhood less dangerous.

To read the rest of the article in the Philadelphia Weekly, go here.

I had dinner last night with 100 plus people in the city in the most novel ministry. There were college aged students and senior citizens, various races, older women with an eye to fashion and men who had come in off the streets. We reflected the society as a whole and, because Broad Street ministries (the Presbyterian ministry at Broad and Arch) is committed to inclusive hospitality, we sat at round tables covered with flowered tableclothes and bouquets of mums and ate a full meal, free. The requirements for us were that we showed our appreciation to the many volunteers who assisted wth the preparation and serving and that we have conversations with the strangers to our right and left. Where else was I going to meet a young wannabe film maker, an artist activist, and an 87 year old World War II veteran who forcefully critiqued a president who was not pursuing peace but prolonging war, a president he had voted for!? There was lots of conversation happening. It was as if we all realized this was a unique and incredible opportunity to engage with a wide array of people whom we would never have met otherwise. And, though it is in a church building and the host was the minister there was not one attempt to prosyltize or advertize or coerce. Our hosts were Christians whose only agenda is to create a way to break down the isolation and anonymity of city life. And it appears to work! Set the banquet table of inclusivity and people will come to the feast. Sounds pretty biblical to me. (Bill Golderer is the pastor.)

As most know, there was a school shooting in Paradise, PA on Monday.  A man walked into a Amish one-room school house and shot ten girls, ages 6 to 13.  Five died and five have lived.

Most communities, when faced with violent, painful loss, react with a blend of pain, grief and immense anger.  In this situation, the tone set by the community of Amish to which the girl belonged to has been one of grace and love.  The surrounding population has picked up on it, and the response of has been gentle and deeply caring.  I am staggered by the amount of love that has poured forth as a result of this horror, and I am changed by it.

I’ve started thinking about what the world would be like if the families of the victims gathered with the families of the perpetrator(s) to grieve and pray every time a violent act such as this was committed.  It seems to me that that would be a revolutionary act.