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So far, my work has been to follow government action, but local businesses, non-profits, and the faith community will be as essential to solving racial equity gaps in our neighborhoods and schools.

Today’s article will examine the role of the church and racial equity by highlighting excellent research by Dr. Dave Kresta, Can Churches Change a Neighborhood?, as well as my initial impressions of Wilsonville’s faith community in addressing this issue.

As a follower of Jesus, I believe the church – as an intuition, which I define as different from ekklesia - plays an essential role and should be at the political forefront in addressing individual and systemic brokenness of racism.

However, from my experience serving in ministries, I have found that working within the faith community can be more challenging than working with the government. As Dr. Kresta’s research points out,

“87% of churches nationwide are less diverse than the neighborhood in which they are located.”

My hope is that by highlighting Dr. Kresta’s recommended actions for the church we can spur a discussion in Wilsonville that will lead to greater action and coordination.

Can churches change a neighborhood?

Dr. Kresta and I first connected in the summer of 2018. He was completing a doctorate at Portland State University, studying the connection between urban planning and the church. As you probably guessed, this guy is right up my alley. I am a big fan.

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Kresta for lunch to discuss the culmination of his work, Can Churches Change a Neighborhood?

Major findings

The following are Dr. Kresta’s major findings with my thoughts below (if you hold a sandwich while reading this, you will get an idea of the conversation between Dave and me at lunch):

“White churches in non-white neighborhoods are associated with more gentrification.”

Having attended predominately white churches in a non-white neighborhoods, this rings true. Only once, have I seen this done differently with intention. At East End Fellowship, a white pastor from outside the neighborhood, Corey Widmer, took a co-pastoral position with a black pastor from within the neighborhood, Don Coleman, to plant a new church in a predominately non-white, gentrifying neighborhood.

“Church social services do not reverse neighborhood decline, but they do help slow down gentrification by stemming displacement.”

As someone who taught “When Helping Hurts” curriculum to church members, this is true from experience. It is common for churches to meet emergency needs, but when it comes to long-term recuperation and reconciliation – which require relationship and patience – there are few who step up to the task.

“More geographically dispersed congregations result in less white influx and less gentrification, but these churches are also less helpful in declining neighborhoods.”

I questioned Dave about whether the impact to gentrification would be different between race. This was not a question he researched, but one could go back and parse through the data. My experience is that traditionally black churches that maintain a presence in gentrified neighborhoods serve as an important cultural connection for remaining neighborhood residents, and as a connection point for those scattered in the diaspora.

“Churches in the USA are 1.6 times more segregated than our neighborhoods. 87% of churches nationwide are less diverse than the neighborhood in which they are located.”

Continuing since Martin Luther King’s famous “our most divided hour” comment in 1960, this is still a startling fact that the church should find appalling. In my three decades of church involvement in protestant and evangelical churches, I have seen a few take this on with much intention.

Call to action

The following are selections from Dr. Kresta’s study, with my thoughts below:

“Churches should also examine how their programs and activities generate social capital and the implications of that social capital: bridging activities that link congregations to the larger political and economic systems appear to have the most beneficial impacts for surrounding neighborhoods, a definite challenge for church leaders who may be uncomfortable interacting with those systems.”

Dave’s writing on the difference between social bonding, linking, and bridging is incredibly fascinating! Reading about these helps explain how churches can work together to build coalitions, without compromising uniqueness (see example of New Orleans post-Katrina)

Is the “church leaders who may be uncomfortable interacting with those systems” just a white problem? Dave’s research did not capture this, but from my experience, the hesitancy to speak out on racial politics is not a problem for non-white churches. In white churches, I have seen pastors speak fervently about homosexuality and abortion, but rarely about racism.

“Church leaders should consider both how churches relate to individuals and how they interact with social processes in their communities. For example, the anti-gentrification, anti-displacement impact of social services deserve more attention and investigation. Church social services can be more focused on helping low-income residents keep their homes, strengthening the anti-gentrification impact.”

The field of urban planning has been slow to address this issue as well. The best examples of people-centered planning or evaluation processes - some of which have been championed by churches - are toolkits for anti-displacement and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). Each of these begin with recognizing people as assets, and building programs to support their advancement.

“Particularly urgent is the need for church leaders, especially those starting new churches, to realize that their choices can either resist or reinforce general urban trends that have resulted in the displacement of marginalized populations and increasing economic inequality. Given the varied impacts highlighted in this study, church leaders should consider doing a “community impact study” prior to making location choices for new churches. Such a study could result in a decision to change locations, or pursue partnering with existing churches and institutions rather than starting a new church.”

If you are thinking about starting a church, you should talk to Sean Benesh. Similar to Dave, Sean has written extensively on the intersection of church planting and social entrepreneurship (buy and read Intrepid). Sean and I have also met for coffee. I dig him.

The church and racial equity in Wilsonville

In moving to Portland, I had high hopes. Years ago I was handed Kevin Palau’s “Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel” and devoured it. I read about City Serve and was inspired to support people in Richmond, Virginia, who were starting something similar (For Richmond).

When I was looking for a job, I met with Kevin Palau and Palau Association staff to discuss opportunities with City Serve. They were moving to a greater emphasis on evangelism and Portland Leadership Foundation would take a lead on the political component. I have the utmost respect for the Palau Association's work, but to be honest, the mindset that these issues are an either or choice was a bummer.

In Wilsonville, I have attended multiple churches in a search for a faith community. The theology and social justice activism of Meridian Church of Christ is awe-inspiring. Pastor Catherine Allard is working to develop a progressive voice and safe space within Wilsonville’s oldest church. Check out their latest email on climate change, which follows previous calls for action on race and LGBTQ rights.

At Heart of the City, Director Lyn Whelchel is a person who I am in complete adoration of for her demeanor towards all people. Heart of the City may be the only place in Wilsonville to offer comprehensive resources of counseling, food, and connection to medical and housing needs. My talk with her and Grace Chapel’s Jake Schwein helped map out housing resources (or lack thereof) within the city and will be a forthcoming article.

As for Lantix-serving churches, I have heard that St. Cyril (Catholic) and Community of Hope’s Spanish language service (Protestant) are connections. It seems like there is a disconnect between Wilsonville’s sizable and growing Latinx population and the community’s institutions, whether that be in government or the church.

My impression is that within Wilsonville’s churches, there is little to no bonding, linking, or bridging on social issues that Dr. Kresta’s research shows as a critical need. School backpacks or canned food drive, yes. Housing affordability, education inequality, incarceration rates, or immigration, no.

What is your next step?

My hope is that by highlighting Dr. Kresta’s recommended actions for church leaders we can spur a discussion in Wilsonville that will lead to greater action and coordination.

Are you interested in responding to Dr. Kresta’s call to action for churches to link and bridge to issues that impact racial inequalities in Wilsonville?

I hope your answer is YES! Please contact me. Like you read about with Dave and Sean, I enjoy discussion over coffee or lunch.