God of This City?

Photo Courtesy of Peter Nash

If you weren’t aware, TIME Magazine has moved into the neighborhood, purchasing a house in Detroit to spend the next year experiencing and writing about the culture, politics, and economy of the city. As a Detroiter, I’m fascinated by this project and have enjoyed reading the blog posts written from an “insider’s” perspective. In today’s post, “Ditchin’ Religion,” blogger Darrell Dawsey responds to the Freedom from Religion Foundation’s purchase of local billboards communicating anti-religious messages. In his article, Dawsey affirms the organization’s campaign and makes a case that Detroit’s large number of churches don’t appear to be doing much good in the fight to improve the local community. Dawsey claims,

“You can’t walk two city blocks here without passing somebody’s church, most of them open just long enough for Sunday services, choir rehearsals and the occasional gospel brunch. (As as kid, I used to hear even church-goers compare the many churches in town to the many liquor stores and wonder aloud what good either really did for us.) Meanwhile, in almost every neighborhood where these churches abound and thrive, the rest of community continues to crumble.”

And, although he paints with far too broad a brush, I think that to some extent, he’s exactly right.

At this year’s Willow Creek Leadership Summit Harvey Carey, Pastor of Detroit’s Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, opened his talk describing his move to the city from Chicago to start Citadel. When he arrived he was met with open opposition from the local Pastor’s for several reasons not the least of which being his desire to create a diverse congregation that bridges the urban-suburban racial gap. Carey’s story received an audible gasp from the Willow Creek community but those of us viewing from our metro Detroit satellite location weren’t surprised. We’ve been jaded by both the powerful, politically savvy Ministerial Alliance and the eight lanes of highway that represent one of the nations most epic racial and class divides. Stories like Carey’s are all too common to us. And thus, for the most part, Dawsey’s point is proven.

As Detroit continues to fall into economic upheaval the opportunity for the Church to stand in the social service Gap is unprecedented. So where are we? While there are several ministries alive and well in the city, places like Detroit Rescue Mission or Mariner’s Inn, most are grossly under funded and lack the resources to provide the vast scope of services needed to really impact the community. And while many suburban churches have taken pity on the city most of their efforts, as well intentioned as they may be, are often more like pet projects than long term, relationship building, strategic, missional efforts. The type of projects designed go beyond the Chick tract to meet physical, relational, and spiritual needs while doing the messy work of service.

I will admit that Dawsey’s piece initially rubbed me the wrong way. At second glance however, I realize that my issue is not with him or his accusations against the Church. My real issue is that we, the Church, are neglecting an opportunity – a responsibility- to meet the needs of our city. We’ve left a mile wide opening for folks like Dawsey who are skeptical of the Church and denominational religion to call us out and many of us deserve it.

So, the real question becomes: What do we do about it? For the next week I’ll be posting about what the church can do to be present in the city. These will be posts that will hopefully challenge what we are being called to do in response to urban issues like those facing Detroit. This is a message for everyone in the church, even if you don’t live here.

Leave a comment about Dawsey’s post or about being the Church to the city. I look forward to reading your thoughts.