Against racism: Faith to action

As part of the second phase of Lynchburg’s Community Dialogue on Race and Racism, a faith-based action group has begun its work by identifying 10 ongoing programs where interracial understanding is strengthened by congregations in the faith community working together.

A recent example is “Music Fest,” a one-day event sponsored this fall by First Christian Church, Lynchburg and Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Monroe. Choirs and individuals from the two churches performed music and dance at this event, which raised money for a critical housing need, and more such events with wider participation are being planned.

Eight downtown churches have been holding an ecumenical Sunday school class for adults at 9:30 each Sunday morning, September through May. Court Street Baptist, Court Street United Methodist, Diamond Hill Baptist, Holy Cross Catholic, Jackson Street United Methodist, Jericho Baptist, St. Paul’s Episcopal and Westminster Presbyterian churches host the class on a rotating basis.

“Day of Difference,” a spring Saturday project of seven Rivermont Avenue area churches, features home repairs, health checks, children’s activities, a prayer walk, and joint worship services, involving members of C Street Baptist, Centenary United Methodist, Fellowship Church of Christ, Mt. Carmel Baptist, Rivermont Avenue Baptist, Rivermont Baptist and Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian churches. “In unity for a better community,” each church is represented at monthly planning sessions for ongoing joint activities, and leadership comes primarily from lay members of the congregations.

The Parkview Mission brings together four United Methodist congregations who worship together on fifth Sundays. Parkview, Southview, Jackson Street and Trinity share facilities and a joint mission to homeless persons that includes a Wednesday night dinner and a clothes closet at the Parkview church.

The 26-member congregations who comprise Churches for Urban Ministry work to meet the physical, spiritual, social, and educational needs of inner-city children and their families. Housed at Westminster Presbyterian Church, their programs include Camp Timothy, after-school tutoring, TYMS (Training Young Men Successfully) and a food pantry.

Churches United for Service is an effort by 12 churches to confront inner city violence and to work for social justice through programs such as Love Walks, Bibles for Guns and a car auction.

The Interfaith Outreach Association coordinates efforts by its member congregations in providing funds for food, fuel, furniture, and other basic necessities. It also sponsors programs for the visually impaired and for inmates, including juveniles.

At SHARE (Self-Help and Resource Exchange) one can place a monthly order for food in exchange for two hours of community service. Food is sold at half-price, and faith groups host the interracial effort to order, bag, and deliver the food.

The Hunger Initiative Project in the Community involves students at Lynchburg College and Randolph College in surveying the scope of hunger in the area, as well as existing efforts to address it, building relationships and incorporating racial equity in the process.

Another new program is Give Big Lynchburg, in which four churches challenge individuals to come together to “give big” in order to meet community needs and learn to live beyond self. At ,  they seek contact from anyone who has or sees a need, who can help fill a need, or who can help lead or support this effort.

The Action Group wants to know about other Lynchburg area faith group endeavors promoting racial equity, as well as new ideas for developing additional programs. Please contact Ruth Syre at the Centra Congregational Health Program, (434) 200-4041.