Faithful Philly Forum

I’m Meredith, the program intern at the Christian Association, and I’ll be talking about campus activism on here from time to time. I’m a sophomore at Penn, orignially from Milwaukee, majoring in political science, and apart from my social justice activities I write for the Daily Pennsylvanian and play viola in a chamber ensemble.

I’m also going to start getting in touch with West Philly places of worship and post a regular digest of what’s going on, as a way to start networking. We at the CA want to shape this blog into a hub for faithful peace and justice work in the area and can’t wait to build that with you!

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.