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Security Concerns
Amidst security concerns, the federal government is allocating an additional $400 million for security at places of worship, particularly focusing on concerns over threats against Jewish and Muslim communities.
This increase in funding is part of the existing federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program and aims to help synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions hire security personnel or install cameras to enhance their security measures. The program allocated $305 million last year to nonprofits to help protect their facilities from potential attacks.
Applications for accessing these funds need to be submitted by May 21.
Affordable Housing
St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle plans to convert part of its property into affordable housing. Rev. Steve Thomason envisions this project to provide affordable housing with resources available at the cathedral. Trinity Church Wall Street in New York has supported this effort through $250,000 in grants. The aim of the project is to address rising living costs and housing challenges in Seattle, especially for marginalized groups. The church is considering options like rebuilding or converting the St. Nicholas School into 119 housing units and aims to start construction in 2027.
In Madison, several churches are reevaluating their properties due to declining memberships and increasing maintenance costs. Lakeview Moravian Community Church, now part of Common Grace, is planning to convert its property into a community center. The city of Madison is preparing for potential changes in land use at many church sites. Some churches are considering affordable housing options in response to Madison's affordability crisis. The redevelopment of church properties is seen as a long-term process requiring early planning and community consultation. St. John’s Lutheran Church is donating land for an affordable housing project while maintaining its presence in the new building.
Breaking Barriers
75 leaders of national Christian organizations and prominent churches have issued a statement to the White House, Congress, and congregational leaders, urging greater action to combat racism and poverty. The statement highlights ongoing racial disparities in areas like maternal mortality and hate crimes and expresses concern that racism is worsening. It calls for specific actions, such as passing an expanded child tax credit, to address poverty-related issues.
During the 23rd annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Native American members of the Episcopal Church addressed the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the United States. They highlighted the high rates of violence experienced by Indigenous women and the ongoing challenges in addressing this issue. The Episcopal Church has been actively involved in advocating for Indigenous rights and addressing intergenerational trauma, including confronting its complicity in historical injustices such as Indigenous boarding schools and the Doctrine of Discovery.
Survivor advocacy organizations within the South Asian diaspora, such as South Asian SOAR, are focused on breaking cultural and religious stigmas around domestic violence. In a survey of nearly 500 South Asian immigrants in the U.S., nearly half reported experiencing physical domestic violence in their lifetime. South Asian SOAR works to break cultural stigmas that contribute to silence around domestic violence. They advocate for culturally competent care, understanding the complexities immigrants face, including religious and legal challenges.
United Methodist delegates recently overturned decades-old bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages after years of activism and contentious debates. The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of debate over LGBTQ inclusion.
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