That’s the question in Brooklyn, NY. And an organization called “Right To the City” answers, YES! Read The Atlantic article to find out why.
Day 38 Devotional & Discussion – March 24, 2016
Several of the first members of the church sold property and shared the money with the poor. The result was profound—there were no needy people among them! Some commentators have suggested that the early church was living out the Jubilee with a voluntary redistribution of wealth.
Questions for Reflection:
- Why do you think the believers had a change in their view of possessions?
- How might testifying to the resurrection relate to their new view of property ownership?
- Who takes the lead in this new economy?
- How open do you think your faith community would be to this economic arrangement?
Day 37 Devotional & Discussion – March 23, 2016
Jesus encountered a man who lived in a cemetery. The man was not in his right mind. He was possessed by a demon that had isolated him from the rest of the community. Rather than avoid the man, Jesus interacted with him (treated him as a human being) and ultimately healed him and returned him to his home.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is your typical reaction to people live in places that are not intended for overnight accommodations—like viaducts, parks, doorways?
- Are you more likely to avoid them or interact with them? Why?
- Do you think people are homeless because they are mentally ill or are they mentally ill because they are homeless?
- How can you help people avoid isolation?
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
In the 1980’s the state of Illinois shifted its provision of mental health services from an institutional model to a community-based model. While well intentioned (place people in community), the result was often devastating to individuals and communities because there were not enough resources to meet their needs. As a result, thousands of people who were “deinstitutionalized” ended up homeless. Veterans, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and inability to reintegrate into their communities also make up a significant portion of the homeless population. Last year, Chicago closed or cut back city neighborhood mental health clinics. This year, due to the Illinois budget impasse, Lutheran Social Services announced it would discontinue 30 programs. Call your state representative and senators to tell them, “Restore mental health funding!”
Day 36 Devotional & Discussion – March 22, 2016
Easter is often an occasion for family gatherings–and of course a big dinner! Jesus encouraged his followers to have an “untraditional” guest list for their special occasions.
Questions for Reflection:
- How does your Easter invitation list stack up to those Jesus would include?
- How will you extend your “table” to people who don’t have a table of their own?
Occupy Palm Sunday Sermon
The following is a transcript of Pastor Ray’s sermon, delivered as a part of the Occupy Palm Sunday worship service with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and Nuestra Señora De Las Americas on Sunday, March 20, 2016. The service was followed by a rally protesting the proposed replacement of 525 units of public housing with an equal number of market rate units at Lathrop Homes and an occupation of one of the 800 currently vacant units.
Luke 19:41-44
As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
I love Chicago. No, I LOVE Chicago! I grew up “rural”—first in Kentucky where our closest neighbor was a mile away and then in Illinois in a small town of 600 people. But the city of Chicago drew me like a magnet, and I vowed that one day I would live here. I kept my vow. I still love this city. The view of the skyline from the Adler Planetarium on a crisp clear morning can still make my heart skip a beat. Sometimes, as I watch the sunset from my rooftop, the rays of the sun hit the skyscrapers just right, turning them into bars of silver and gold.
I’ve been told that something similar happens in Jerusalem. Most of the buildings are made of white limestone, a material that reflects the light and changes colors as the sun makes its way across the sky. So I can imagine Jesus reaching the crest of the Mount of Olives that first Palm Sunday and seeing the walls of the city and the temple aglow with the golden light of the late afternoon sun, and thinking, “Wow! That’s beautiful.”
But let’s face it. Just because something looks like gold doesn’t mean it IS gold. Jesus knew that beneath the golden glow was a diseased heart. The temple of Jerusalem—the heart of Jewish religious, economic and social life—was filled with greed and exploitation of the poor. Those who were most vulnerable—the widow, the fatherless, the alien, the disabled—were the victims of oppression and abuse. So when Jesus rides into the city of Jerusalem, his response is not awe and wonder. While everyone else is impressed with the magnificence of the stones, Jesus sees those stones as symbols of the injustices perpetrated against the poor…and he weeps. “If only you had recognized and followed the ways the peace. If only you had understood the year of God’s favor. But you have rejected it. You have chosen to be blind to God’s justice. The paths you have chosen are not sustainable and in the end, they will lead to your destruction. “
Yesterday, I decided to practice today’s Palm Sunday procession across the Diversey Ave. bridge over the Chicago River. I imagined Jesus crossing that bridge with me. As we came to the top of the bridge, my eyes were drawn to the south. There before me was a spectacular panoramic view of the iconic buildings of the Chicago skyline. “Wow!” I thought.
I have to show Jesus the sites. “Jesus, look over there. There’s the Hancock building. See how it boldly expresses its strength with the exposed X braces. It won all sorts of design awards. Isn’t it impressive? It’s named for a global insurance powerhouse. And over there is the Sears…I mean, the Willis Tower. It was the tallest building in the world for decades. It’s an engineering marvel—nine tubes of various heights bound together as one. Amazing, isn’t it? It’s named for Willis Holding Group, a multinational risk advisor. And there in the center—like an extended middle finger—is Trump Tower. See how the light shimmers off its multi-faceted glass skin. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s full of multi-million dollar condos, and it’s named after…. Well, you probably already know about him.”
And I look over at Jesus, and there are tears running down his face. I think, Yeah, it’s THAT beautiful. But then I realize that Jesus isn’t looking downtown. He’s looking east. I turn and look east too, and there laid out before me is the Julia C. Lathrop Homes public housing project.
And Jesus begins pointing at Lathrop. He points to make sure I see what he sees. He points to the chain link fences that surround and block access to apartment buildings. He points to the boarded up windows and doors. He points to the decorative shutters shedding their paint. He just points. And then he turns and looks at me with the dazzling downtown skyline as a backdrop, and says, “If only you recognized what would bring peace to your violent streets. If only you pursued justice. If only you understood the meaning of the year of God’s favor. If you did, you wouldn’t have turned this into a desolate place. Mark my words. Mark my words well. The day will come when YOUR place will be desolate. Then, what will you do?” Jesus’s words kind of sting, but I know what he means.
These vacant, boarded up apartments had once housed low-income families seeking the opportunity to improve their lives. Each building represented hope. Each row house represented the promise of a better future. But that promise had been broken. Instead, these same apartments now awaited transformation into a “vibrant mixed-income community”. These apartments now represent profit for developers at the expense of the poor. They now represent yet another betrayal of those who are in greatest need.
In that moment, I thought of all those families who continue to languish on housing waiting lists. (Pause) I thought about those people with disabilities who are forced to live in the indignity of shelters. (Pause) I thought about the tents under the Kennedy expressway viaduct. (Pause) And I understood why Jesus wept when he looked over the city. I wept too.
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Churches “Occupy” CHA’s Lathrop Homes on Palm Sunday
The following is the Press Release regarding “Occupy Palm Sunday.”
On Palm Sunday, churches “occupy” CHA’s Lathrop Homes
Tell Mayor Emanuel: “Show us the plan” for North Side units
Over 250 people from area churches and the community gathered at 2029 W. Diversey in the heart of the Julia C. Lathrop Homes on Palm Sunday afternoon as a part of the 5th annual “Occupy Palm Sunday”, waving palm branches, carrying signs and chanting, “Show Us the Plan!” The event, organized by the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance (LSEA), Chicago Housing Initiative (CHI) and Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA), was in protest of Wednesday’s City Council action to approve the rezoning of Lathrop Homes that paves the way for elimination of 525 units of public housing on the historic site.
“Mayor Emanuel and the city of Chicago are taking homes that were set aside for low-income families and giving them to the rich,” Rev. Bruce Ray announced to the crowd. “That ain’t right! Mayor Emanuel needs to show us a plan that will replace those units on the North Side, and he needs to do it now.”
Ray, pastor of Kimball Avenue Church in Logan Square, said that the LSEA has demanded a meeting with the Mayor on Monday, March 21, at 10:00 am, to find a way forward, followed by a press conference. “Families are desperate for affordable housing. And the CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) is sitting on millions of dollars that should be used to provide that housing right here and right now,” Ray added.
Youth from local churches turned over a table covered with play money they called “Rahm Bucks” in a re-enactment of Jesus driving out the money changers in the temple in Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday. “CHA has the money. Why won’t they use it to provide housing?” one youth asked. “That’s what they are supposed to do.”
Participants, including many in wheelchairs, then processed to a vacant unit to hold an extended vigil. Laura Donaldson has been on the CHA’s waiting list for 20 years, but the lack of accessible low-income housing units has forced her to live in shelters. “We don’t need more market rate housing,” she said. “Look around, there are plenty of places people can rent. But low-income people with disabilities are left out in the cold.” Those keeping vigil said they were willing to stay throughout the night to show solidarity with those who have been displaced and have few housing options.
Bishop Wayne Miller of the Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) also addressed the crowd. “We are once again witnessing a city government breaking faith. This is no longer a matter of public policy; it is a matter of public morality. There is still time for civic leaders to turn, and to choose a better path,” he said to the applause of the crowd.
In February, under pressure from community leaders, CHA CEO Eugene Jones issued a vaguely-worded letter committing that the CHA would create “525 new housing opportunities” on the North Side. But the letter offered no specifics on how and when those units would be developed and how they would be funded. “The CHA has a long history of broken promises,” said Leah Levinger, Executive Director of the Chicago Housing Initiative (CHI). “The agency has delivered fewer than half of the replacement units it has promised since 1999, so Jones’ ‘commitment”; is empty,” she added. “Why should we believe the CHA would fulfill this new commitment? We need a plan.”
Referencing Martin Luther King, Jr’s, occupation of a public housing unit for 24 hours on Chicago’s West Side 50 years ago, Rev. Liz Muñoz, pastor of Nuestra Señora De Las Americas, said, “Families are being gentrified out of their communities. The result is the economic and racial re-segregation of the city—especially on the North Side. Lathrop represents stable housing for low income families in a great community, with decent schools, job opportunities, and safe streets, but the Mayor is choosing to take that away from the poor to build housing for the rich. That is completely unjust, and we cannot be silent in the face of injustice.”
The crowd was not silent, picking up the chant once again, “Show Us The Plan!” while 10 people, including Ms. Donaldson, Logan Square pastors and housing advocates, entered a vacant unit, vowing to occupy it for 24 hours.
Day 35 Devotional & Discussion – March 21, 2016
MATTHEW 8:19-20; LUKE 10:38-42
During his 3-year ministry, Jesus was a traveling preacher without a permanent address. He depended upon the hospitality of strangers and friends. Martha (and Mary) opened their home to Jesus frequently.
Questions for Reflection
- When was the last time you opened your home to a missionary, a friend, or someone who needed help?
- What stops you from using your home as a place for ministry to the needs of others?
The Social Dynamics of Gentrification
Check out this article from 2014 that shows how gentrification is reshaping our cities and impacting communities of color.
Gentrification in Seven US Cities
Day 34 Devotional & Discussion – March 19, 2016
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Churches of the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance will remember Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and reflect on what would happen if Jesus entered Logan Square, asking ourselves what Jesus might see that needed to be changed. Jesus’ first action after his parade was to disrupt business as usual at the temple—business that took advantage of the poor. Since we are using the season of Lent to “make homes’ for others, we believe Jesus would be deeply disturbed by what is taking place at Lathrop Homes where the Chicago Housing Authority is planning to eliminate housing for the poor (525 public housing units) and replace them with 500 units of housing for people with higher incomes. This redistribution of land does not fulfill “the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Questions for Reflection:
- Flipping tables was a direct action that exposed unjust practices that harmed the poor. What do you think Jesus wanted to accomplish through his direct action?
- Do you think Jesus was effective? Successful?
- Would you be willing to participate in a direct action? Why or why not?
There is no devotional for Sunday, March 20, 2016. Join the LSEA for a Palm Sunday worship service and action at Lathrop Homes.
An Open Letter from ELCA Bishop Wayne Miller on Lathrop Homes
HONORING PROMISES
March 16, 2016
“Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds… They covet fields, and seize them; houses and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance.” Micah 2:1-2
Our city has been enveloped by a moral crisis. It is a beast with many heads, but the core issue is that TRUST between the people of Chicago and its elected leaders is broken. And the devastating impact of this broken trust has now escalated to the point that educational resources, access to social services, employment opportunity, public safety, and even confidence in law enforcement itself are all threatened.
And yet, despite this critical failure in the foundational trust fabric of community life, we are once again witnessing a city government breaking faith by converting the Lathrop Homes on the north side from low-income housing to “mixed income” housing with no reliable plan and no credible evidence of any commitment to provide alternative housing for the poor, who are being relentlessly displaced by this new development plan.
No matter what the arguments regarding theories of urban planning, the inescapable truth is that what has been happening at Lathrop represents a policy built on lies and broken promises over many years. Promises have been broken in our relationship with the federal government, which has been paying millions of dollars into the CHA, trusting that these dollars would be used for their intended purpose. They have not. Promises have been broken to the residents of Lathrop, who have left, either by eviction or persuasion, with an unfulfilled expectation of new housing that has never been built. Simultaneously, those residents have been barred from returning to the home left behind. Promises have been broken to all the taxpayers of the city who have trusted elected officials who seem to have forgotten that government exists to defend the well-being of the vulnerable, the broken, and the marginalized, against the crushing oppressive force of unrestrained wealth and unaccountable social privilege.
The one essential structure of all social, communal, or civic life is the capacity to make, to keep, and to honor promises. Without the honoring of promises there is no integrity. Without integrity there is no credibility. Without credibility, there can be no trust. And without trust, there is no community. This is no longer a matter of public policy. It is a matter of public morality.
It is therefore incumbent upon Christian leaders, not merely as a matter of civic responsibility, but as a matter of evangelical necessity, to speak and act in a way that places the Church clearly and unambiguously in communion with the God who always stands in solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable whose trust has been betrayed, even if doing so puts us at personal risk. My hope is that there is still time for civic leaders to recognize the destructive effect of these choices, to turn, and to choose a better path.
Bishop Wayne N. Miller
Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA
Chicago, IL
Bishop Miller will participate in the Occupy Palm Sunday Action at Lathrop Homes on March 20, 2016.
Tongue on Fire 