Burned Churches: Building Communities of Hope

The National Council of Churches is fully aware that rebuilding churches will not solve the problem of hate crimes. So it has extended the Burned Churches Project with a plan to address the racism at the heart of the burnings. "We don't want these new churches simply to become fuel for the next arson," announced the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell at a convocation held in Washington. The convocation marked the first anniversary of that day when Harry Baldwin traveled with 37 other clergy members to the US capital to tell his story.

The new initiative focuses on developing community dialogues to confront issues of racism and racial justice. Campbell announced: "While continuing to rebuild churches is still very important, the healing process also must address the deep-seated problem of racial hatred that plagues many communities. Our goal is to create communities where burning any house of worship is intolerable and universally condemned."

"The arsonists thought they were doing harm, but God really blessed this church because of them," --The Rev. Harry Baldwin, Gay's Hill Baptist Church

While the NCC continues its commitment to rebuilding--considering an additional 120 churches for rebuilding aid--it has also joined with state councils of churches throughout the country to sponsor locally based dialogues about race relations. Phase II, "Building Communities of Hope," emphasizes the creation of partnerships between local churches and local or state initiatives--as well as the continuation of interfaith partnerships linking Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others--to coordinate efforts for racial justice. Training, monitoring racial crimes, and an Internet forum are part of the plans for Phase II. The efforts and the dialogues are intended to dovetail with new efforts by President Clinton's Race Advisory Commission and to complement ongoing efforts of the US Civil Rights Commission, according to Don Rojas, Administrator for Racial Justice and Reconciliation for the NCC's Church Rebuilding Project. The Phase II plan will also seek to extend the work of interfaith coalitions that have formed in local communities to rebuild burned churches.

The Dream Is Alive

Churches burned down in hatred are being reconstructed with love and dedication by people of different races. "Love, hope, happiness, and sawdust have come out of the ashes," says Harry Baldwin. But some of the churches on the NCC's list have refused the help of outsiders. In some cases, the congregation itself may have access to enough resources to rebuild. But, in other cases, there is no basis for trust. At the Gay's Hill dedication, evidence of profound change on the part of the White volunteers poured forth from the pulpit. "The work wasn't easy; it was hard," said Gary Fisher of the Causeway Corporation. "As a White person relating to Black people, I'm just learning. I was so well received. We had many conversations about hard construction decisions, but the work was done and done well. We remain brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for inviting me. It was a great privilege."

Kevin Hale of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, and the Rev. Cravey of Millen UMC both commemorated Martin Luther King, Jr., in their presentations. It seemed that what had for so long been words and ideas for them became a physical, emotional reality at Gay's Hill.

A rural country road. A Black church burned late at night. A small congregation. Few outsiders concerned. Yet, as warped and twisted as we feel our society has become, there is that spirit that wells up within us when our brother or sister cries out. What Satan tried to accomplish through hate, God conquers and rebuilds with love. Block by block, board by board, Gay's Hill Baptist Church begins to take shape, with volunteer labor from across America breaking down racial and religious barriers. It is not so much the "physical" church being rebuilt as the "spiritual" church. Blacks and Whites [are] working side by side. Martin, your dream has finally come to fruition. It's beginning to work at Gay's Hill and elsewhere across America....The dream IS alive!

--The Rev. Dr. Charles E. Cravey, "A Flower Grows in Harlem."

Christie R. House is the associate editor of New World Outlook. This article is reprinted from the January-February 1998 issue of NEW WORLD OUTLOOK, the Mission Magazine of The United Methodist Church, by permission of the Editors. Copyright © 1998 New World Outlook. All photographs are copyright © The General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church and courtesy, New World Outlook magazine.