DownloadJuly 6, 2009 issue
Cleveland church, others geared up to reduce local and national poverty
By Laurie Oswald Robinson For Mennonite Church USAPage:
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A Mobilization to End Poverty conference in Washington, D.C., surprised Al Anthony of Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland with its passion and commitment.
From left, Rochele Beachy, Sylvia Docking, Sacara Martin, Marita Beachy, Al Anthony, Orene Anthony, Lee Bradley, Antonio Ewell, Crandall Miller were part of a group from Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland that participated in the Mobilization to End Poverty Conference in Washington, D.C. — Photo by Greta Brackman/MC USA
Poverty is not a new issue for Anthony, a longtime member of the racially and economically diverse congregation, which includes low-income members.
“We were energized by the new solidarity we felt from many others,” he said. “We believe more fervently than ever in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that by working together across many classes and communities locally and nationally, we can make an impact. We have new hope that we are not alone.”
Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Central Committee East Coast and MCC U.S. provided $3,000 in scholarships and were outreach partners for the April 26-29 event, hosted by Sojourners, an ecumenical Christian advocacy organization.
Anthony and 13 others from Lee Heights joined 1,200 participants from 44 states and 24 denominations, as well as from several other countries. At least 40 Mennonites, including the Lee Heights group, participated from across MC USA. Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, director of the MCC Washington office, hosted the Mennonites for a gathering.
“This is an example of how interchurch collaboration is happening on many levels — in the denomination, in area conferences and in congregations,” said André Gingerich Stoner, MC USA’s director of interchurch relations.
“Lee Heights really took the lead and showed us how congregations can tackle these issues on the local level. We wanted to be part of this event because of the urgency of the issue of poverty. We also wanted to support grassroots efforts and strengthen relationships with Sojourners and other kindred groups.”
Changing the wind
Ohio Conference, one of Mennonite Church USA’s 21 area conferences, is also a reason why Lee Heights has new hope. In March 2008 the conference adopted a resolution to reduce poverty that Lee Heights conference attendees had proposed. Crandall Miller and Nathan Beachy of Lee Heights helped form a Resource Team to Reduce Poverty.
Miller, who had received training as a Sojourners “Windchanger,” put his new skills to use in forming that team. The term refers to a saying by Jim Wallis, Sojourners chief executive officer, that “elected officials always have their finger in the air to test the wind and see which way it is blowing,” Miller said. Wallis says creating change means changing the wind.
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