Such Great Heights Final Report

Shaping Public Discourse

"Christianity Is Political Or It's Not Christianity"
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Guiding Principles

Because of its history and geographic location in the heart of the city next to all three branches of State Government, St. Paul's has a special responsibility to shape public discourse on matters of social justice. Engaging in social issues has been a rich and integral part of the history of our parish involving such dramatic decisions as ending segregation within the liturgy after the Civil War and, more recently, choosing to keep the church downtown.

The committee in looking at this issue is guided by the message of scripture from Micah 6:8

The newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts, speaking as a Christian, recently challenged all Christians to directly and visibly respond to moral questions of the day such as racism, economic and social inequities, the Aids epidemic, and torture. Exactly how each of us should accept this Christian responsibility will differ. But the church needs to be constantly engaged in an internal and external dialogue to identify issues of importance to Christians and to craft responses. The response can take the form of a verbal challenge embracing higher moral authority or it can be in the form of direct action. Being engaged does not always mean "picking sides." It can be an exhortation to live by Christian values without taking a particular stand. Christian discernment does not just align itself with current political thought, whether articulated by parties or individuals. But there is an increasing sense that our public institutions have failed in furthering civilized public discourse. Rather than our institutions being the "conscience of our community," they have become vehicles for polarization. Shaping public policy does not require polarization; it does not require segregating left or right; it does not necessarily decide winners or losers. Nor does Christianity tolerate isolating those who may think differently on political questions. Instead, "Shaping Public Discourse" can be read as facilitating dialogue and personal commitment, all with a Christian perspective. Fair compromises on social issues and creatively constructing paths toward answers will always come with Christian discernment.

Bible scripture is replete with exhortations to carry the Christian message to the world. For example: Romans 12 and 13 tells us that part of being a Christian is about saving the world and that all institutions are created by God for his purposes. According to Deuteronomy 15, the blessings of life are not to horde just for Christians and, along with Matthew 5, we are taught that "blessed are the poor" and that "there shall be no poor among you." God then expects us to take special care for those on the margins of society; "I am here to announce the good news" (Luke 4). In Luke 12 as well we are told that the blessings of life are to be used for those around us. In summary, we must ask ourselves, "How did God create us to live together?"

The church shapes public discourse coming from three discrete areas:

I. PARISH ACTIVITIES

A. Past and Current Activities Shaping Public Discourse

• Vestry funding for RISC (Richmond Involved in Strengthening Communities) and Interfaith Council for Public Policy
• Week day Jazz lunches
• 2008 Presidential Inauguration Service at St. Paul's
• 9/11 Memorial Service at St. Paul's
• 2009 Church and Non-Profit Groups Committee for home foreclosure prevention
• Environmental clean-up activities at Brown's Island, and as part of City Initiative (Green Team)
• Providing physical meeting space for non-profits and "out-of-town" people during the General Assembly
• Support for seminary students' internships in the workplace
• Support of Richmond Hill (Ben Campbell's efforts to further economic equity, public transit and regional participation in assisting the needy).
• "Eyes on Richmond" speakers series; 2009 "Shaping Public Discourse"
• Support for spirituality in the workplace initiatives (Fletcher's "Base Camp" for Christianity)
• Hosting national conferences on racial reconciliation
• Advocacy for quality public education in cities (Micah)
• Hope in the Cities Initiative energizing the communities' conversations (Rob and Susan Corcoran)
• Special program of times where churches across the city offer ecumenical prayers for policy makers; identifying policy makers during Sunday Prayers of the People

B. New Opportunities

• Expand Eyes on Richmond speakers series during the week to all year and provide follow-up opportunity for parish review and response to issues presented at Eyes on Richmond. Also have a special Eyes on Richmond during Advent each year to highlight justice issues to come before the upcoming General Assembly.
• Taping "Eyes on Richmond" and putting tape on internet
• Real time internet streaming of "Eyes on Richmond"
• Subsidize space costs during General Assembly for groups aligned with social justice and make a physical space known as a "non-threatening" place for discourse
• Make Home Board grants more "intentional" in relationship to efforts for social justice
• Creating feedback (blog) opportunities on website for Eyes on Richmond with someone responsible for developing follow-up steps
• Public forum in advance of General Assembly to discuss upcoming issues of social justice with a focus on decreasing polarization between political parties
• More direct engagement with Virginia Interfaith Center (such as joining as a congregation) and Islamic and Hindu communities
• More social justice speakers at Sunday Adult Forum
• Internship program for teenage parishioners at General Assembly (Human Trafficking resolution 2006)
• Youth program to study Michael Moore's documentaries (health care, gun violence, jobs) to explain social justice issues to congregation
• Form Rapid Response Team: Quicker and more direct parish response on local community issues (ex. reggae singer advocating murdering gays, conditions in city jail for drug addicts and mentally ill)
• Forum immediately prior to General Assembly session focusing on social issues for the upcoming session.
• Advocate for city schools like Fox, Mary Munford and others where our parishioners' children attend. Support them in their battles for appropriate resources to include "Micah-like" assistance.
• Public safety issues: MCV's Emergency Room staff are working hard to connect with local gangs when they arrive in the ER wounded and vulnerable. The church could provide important support for those trying to escape a gang life.
• Study the budgets of our five localities - Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Richmond City and work with parishioners of each locality to advocate resources for areas of importance.
• Have presentations and discussions of each of these issues twice yearly where the parish and the community can hear good information and discuss problems and decide what to focus on for the upcoming year.
• Partner with parents and non-profits to help individuals make lifestyle changes to break the cycle of poverty and dependence (e.g. Peter Paul, Chip Woodson for Childrens' Fund)
• Determine an intentional way to help the survival of St. Paul's College, the only Episcopal college in Virginia

II. INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF PARISHIONERS

A. Past and Current Activities Shaping Public Discourse

• Individual participation in RISC (Richmond Involved in Strengthening Communities)
• Parishioners running for elective office (Betsy Carr, Chris Hilbert, Charlie Diradour)
• Parishioners active participation in political campaigns (Phillip Brooks)
• Parishioners participation in social action groups such as HOME, ACLU, Sierra Club, etc.
• Parishioners participation in non-profits such as United Way, arts organizations, etc.
• Parishioners employment in positions able to influence public policy (Mary Kay Huss, Better Housing Coalition, Maria Everette, Freedom of Information Council)
• Leadership in public philanthropy (Buford Scott, Susan Davis Community Fund)
• Parishioners employment in higher education teaching public Policy
• Appointment to City Planning Commission and other local boards (Bev Lacy)
• Thursday morning women's prayer group responding to abuses at Abu Ghraib

B. New Opportunities

• Circulate an inventory identifying what volunteer boards Parishioners serve on and have parishioners share their experiences
• Identify and target boards that St. Paul's parishioners should be appointed to
• Participation at city/county public hearings on budget issues affecting social justice

III. CLERGY

A. Past and Current Activities Shaping Public Discourse

• Clergy activism at General Assembly promoting social justice (Fletcher Lowe on mental health needs, death penalty, use of after-discovered evidence)
• Direct advocacy for mentally ill (Bob Seiler and Gateway Farms)
• Downtown Cooperative Ministry
• Appearances at City Council meetings

B. New Opportunities

• Sermons that are intentionally "provocative" on social issues
• "Sell" the value of being engaged on social justice issues to parish? "Why are we doing this?" Why is a particular issue important to Christians? "How do we embody the courage to shape public policy?"
• Church engagement on veteran's issues such as mental health issues caused by multiple deployment and recent spike in suicide of combat vets
• Articles in Epistle, Bulletin and Calls to Action on social issues affecting the region or requiring attendance by church members
• Creation of a social justice ministry in the same sense that there is an outreach ministry
• Customize the Prayers of the People to reflect a concern for the issues before the world, e.g. praying for the newly elected, passage of the healthcare bill and for the victims and perpetrator of the Ft. Hood killings.

Ways to Create an Atmosphere and Climate for Shaping Public Policy

• Regularly scheduled forums on public policy issues, e.g. giving time for RISC, etc.
• Forming small groups on connecting: e.g. Friends of Amos and RISC Group that tracks local, national and international public policy crises and generates calls for parish action
• Have a regular Sunday alternative to the forum entitled "The Bible and the N.Y. Times"
• Create a ready to respond group, e.g. Trinity Wall Street's response to economic downturn by making available psychological support at the church
• Parish leadership actively involved in targeted issues in front of the media, General Assembly, City Council, Boards of Supervisors, etc.