On May 22 the Fellowship hosted a meeting of leaders of local religious congregations plus a few community service organizations. The invitation was issued at the request of our own justice teams: could we bring together other religious folks to begin to create networks for resource sharing and shared response to the effects of government cruelty we’re all seeing? More than 30 people attended the meeting, from seven or eight congregations and several agencies. All were grateful to be able to talk together, to tell each other what they are seeing and experiencing in their own groups. Folks losing livelihoods as government jobs are discontinued, immigrants and refugees in deepening fear for their safety, the effects of discontinued federal funding on shelters, schools, family support, healthcare and more basic needs.
What didn’t happen, and remains to be seen (and needed) is leadership. All necessary movements require someone(s) to take a step and articulate next steps, to invite and organize. Or, necessary movements need to emerge within already operating structures. Corvallis has many networks and agencies working for common goals and the common good. All of the religious organizations who attended the meeting have working structures and are part of wider networks. Possibilities for shared response certainly exist.
The next clear step to a broad religious network, to coordinating efforts for greater impact, did not emerge in this one meeting. That doesn’t mean that we haven’t begun. Out of the chaos of the immense changes that are happening, I’m convinced that what we need to be doing together is being formed, little by little. Here at the Fellowship, that means staying engaged in the work we are doing and step-by-step connecting our work with the work of others. If you have not yet found your place in the work of the Fellowship, you are most definitely needed and invited. Please, join in!
