by: Rev. Anna Golladay
One of the primary ways I pour back into the work of the 21st-century faith community is by helping congregations reimagine what their buildings might be able to offer to the community—specifically, economic opportunities for the neighbors who live in their area. Usually, this looks like starting a small-business incubator in unused classrooms, offering your large communal space for yoga or dance classes, or reappropriating land/space into housing that is affordable for seniors and those historically marginalized.
But now that the new administration is creating conditions for distress across the country, it is time for congregations to think even more creatively about how their space is used and what opportunities they might have to agitate the system. Here are some ideas that I’ve been thinking about, and I’d love for you to add your own:
- Banned book libraries
- Shelter – Can your community begin investing in short-term overnight supplies such as air mattresses, cots, pop-up showers, and hygiene supplies?
- Lending – Provide short-term, no-interest lending opportunities by allocating 10 $1,000 no-interest loans for those who are facing crisis due to federal and private layoffs
- Food Security – Begin to acquire grocery and co-op gift cards
- Chickens – Yes, I said chickens. Does your church have space that could pop up a robust chicken coup? In addition to providing eggs and meat for your neighbors, chickens are also great composters for your kitchen scraps, act as pest control, and create care-giving opportunities for folks in your community looking for easy ways to engage, specifically your elders and children.
- Natural and prescriptive medical storage – With the threat of anti-depressant and anxiety medications being threatened by the new Health Secretary, might your congregation begin to stockpile natural remedies that could support people during the in-between? I recognize that SSRIs are the ideal option for many folks, but getting creative often asks us to look at medicinal and natural alternatives.
- Plan B assist – I am stocking up on Plan B. I’m past the age of fertility, but I have many friends who aren’t. Plan B has a 4-year shelf life and can significantly assist young people in navigating their choices.
- Emergency Child Care – preparation for a reduction in child care funding, could members of your congregation become certified in early childhood safety?
- National Parks – Are there parks near you that will suffer from the cuts in funding? Prepare for litter clean-up and light maintenance opportunities.
- Water – Is your community prepared if RFK removes fluoride from the water, or if filtration systems collapse? Tools like lifestraw enable you to drink directly from unfiltered or uncertain water. If you are in an area where this is a likely possibility, invest in these devices to share.
- Host a law or finance clinic – If you have current or retired lawyers and accountants in your congregation, this might be a good time to host a time for legal and financial help. It is suggested that everyone get their will, power of attorney, and advance medical directives ready as well as identifying alternative savings methods that don’t rely on the FDIC.
This is in no way an exhaustive list, and your communities might have skill sets that are perfect for alternative options. But I encourage you to think creatively and critically about your role in the dissent. We all have a role to play. If you want to talk more about how to use your church campus as a location of possibility, reach out to Convergence for a conversation.
