When I was in grade school I used to think that the world was a whole lot simpler. Didn’t we all? Now I think that in many ways I was a little more human because of it. Don’t get me wrong, grade school can be a pretty cruel place. It had its own politics, its own social strata. But I also remember that if someone was hurt we’d run as fast as we could to get the nurse. If someone forgot their lunch we’d give what we had so that no one had to go the remainder of the day hungry. It didn’t matter if you were a King (or Queen) of the court, or a dirty sandbox kid that always seemed to pick their scabs off a little too early. When it came down to basic needs we took care of each other.
High school is when I was introduced to the cold economic concept of ‘externality’. That cost slimming, “It’s not our bailiwick, it’s someone else’s problem” part of economics that seems drive so much of our modern industry. Passing the buck though is also a framework for seeing the world that can feel as natural as an old pair of jeans. Life after all is complex, so complex that we barely seem to be able to take care of ourselves let alone those that have no lunch or need to see the nurse.
One of the things that first drew me to church was that it felt like all the good things I remember about grade school. Jesus love was people helping people regardless of who they were or what idiosyncrasies they had. For years 10th Avenue Church, like many other churches in the city, have been trying to continue this mandate of indiscriminate love which includes caring for the homeless. Since then, many meals have been eaten and many tired heads have rested inside its open doors. About two years ago the church began expansion construction and as a result the homeless people going to tenth for sanctuary had to go visibly through the front door instead of discreetly through the back. Local residents got nervous. Afraid that their new guests would bring along with them crime and drugs and lower property values they complained to the city. The city then responded by telling the church that if they wanted to continue to help the poor they would need permission and have to apply for a social services permit, at least that was what was reported in the news. Bill Chu, coordinator for Faith Communities Called to Solidarity with the Poor (FCCSP) among others claims that the city’s request came long before a single complaint was filed by local residents.
Strangely, the first image that popped into my head upon hearing this news was of a brave Rwandan pastor that stood outside his church during the genocide refusing to let Hutus inside what had become one of the last refuges for Tutsis in the area. Defiantly blocking the entrance of the sanctuary he declared that there were no Hutu or Tsutsi inside. Only people. And, to this brave pastor, people (no matter who they were or where they were from) deserved to be taken care of and treated with dignity. It was Christianity at its finest.
Maybe that is an unfair juxtaposition to make, and it certainly in no way is meant to draw any sort of direct parallelism, but I think the reason it popped into my head so clearly is because the churches desire to help the helpless has always been incredibly intertwined with what it means to worship in the church. In fact, I would argue that this characteristic of worship, this indiscriminate kind of love, can’t be divorced from our understanding and existence as Christians. In other words, asking Christians not to love and stand up for the poor, the voiceless, and the marginalized is like asking water not to be wet.
The novel attempt at micromanagement by the city (and I say novel because to my knowledge, no other city in Canada has made such a move) indirectly redefines church worship to be independent from social service. It likens us to dry water. On a macro-level, this move effects all churches in the city, possibly even the country because of the precedence it sets. There are a large number of churches in the city that do vital work for the poor and the marginalized and there is a real legitimate fear that they will be targeted next. In a recent e-mail Bill Chu noted that, "Recently the city staff has indicated that they had imposed the same permit onto other churches. If that's the case, the situation is even worse. Some churches may be suffering without others knowing it."
The faith community has come out swinging though, and on the 18th of August a coalition of fourteen interfaith leaders took to city hall and spoke out on their refusal to let helping the poor become an externality to their worship. Together they declared that they were unwilling to let the buck get passed onto an already small number of resources the poor have to turn to in our city. That it didn’t matter if you were a King of the court or a dirty sandbox kid, people of all sorts could count on the church for their help.
Currently there is petition in circulation condemning the cities attempt to handcuff church worship that you can sign if you would like to lend your voice to the debate (the link is below). It needs to be sent in before September 22nd and I will try to continue to keep everyone posted on the situation. The situation is a complex one to be sure. It is not that the local neighbors of tenth avenue should be vilainized. They have valid concerns and real dialogue is necessary to resolve them. But I do think that an important larger systemic attitude of the poor in the city is being addressed here.</p>
For Further Reading
CTV News Article | Church needs permit to help the homeless
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070817/church_homeless_070817/20070817?hub=CanadaAM
Vancouver Sun Article | Religious Leaders Take to City Hall
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ca979cfa-09fb-4961-be03-e204b4346496&k=27738.&p=2
Vancouver Sun Article | City Shouldn't Meddle When Religious Groups Preform Good Works
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=4c4081c3-723c-4b34-95a1-1b496621488c
To Get A Copy of the Petition
http://www.streamsofjustice.org/2007/06/social-vocation-of-church.html
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