New Bedford Journal
20 September 2009
Coming to Terms with Violence
The portion of our worship service entitled ‘New Bedford Journal’ gives me, as your minister, the opportunity to bring some specific matter of concern or interest to the congregation for your reflection or possible action. Its subject could be anything. But in general – as it is this week – I will be offering my thoughts on some aspect of life in our New Bedford community.
The recent upsurge in shootings and homicides this year in New Bedford has led local faith leaders and city officials to discuss what they could do beyond their current outreach programs. Nine people have been killed in the city this year. Several more have been wounded by gunfire, including three separate shootings this month. The violence is not just gang related, although there is a presence of groups like MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), Crips, and Bloods, as well as neighborhood gangs.
An article in the Standard-Times just this past Monday talked about how the city's faith community is taking a renewed stand against gun violence. The Inter-Church Council of local priests, ministers, and rabbis is teaming with city and law enforcement officials to run anti-gun seminars and address the growth of illegal firearm trafficking. It is organizing a community-wide walk for peace. Two churches have offered to be “safe-havens,” where gun owners can turn in weapons no questions asked. The Inter-Church Council has developed a covenant signing for peace, and is planning other community-building activities at the neighborhood level.
On Monday, I met with Rev. David Lima, Executive Minister of the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford to indicate my interest in renewing First Unitarian’s participation in the ICC after several years of this church’s withdrawal and non-participation. Ann Fox of the Fairhaven UU church has remained active in the ICC, and I felt we should be represented as well.
I also let David know I would be glad to spend time with the Police Chaplaincy program in which clergy ride with Community Police and work with at-risk youth. Some of my background is suited for this. I am a certified EMT, a member of the Bristol-Norfolk Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team which works with both fire and police who have experienced traumatic events, and a former member of the Mass Corps of Fire Chaplains. More directly relevant, as Senior Consultant with the National Academy of Public Administration in Washington, DC, for five years I was the primary evaluator and advisor to a Department of Justice Funded project instituting performance-based standards in juvenile correctional and detention facilities across the country. This included visiting many correctional sites and working with incarcerated youth. In addition, while a Philosophy professor at Skidmore College in upstate New York, for over six years I administered and taught in a college level program run by Skidmore at one of New York’s four Maximum Security Prisons (Comstock . . . like Attica). (You might say I’ve spent time in the slammer).
The timing of my meeting with David was fortuitous, since he emphasized that the faith community is coming together to say very strongly and publicly, “No more violence!” While the Inter-Church Council has always participated in public safety issues, recent violent events has made it clear there needs to be a larger presence, a stronger statement made. Further, clergy from the various houses of faith have now committed to working together more directly. David’s message, was that “the community must rise up,” and religious leaders have a great role in that rising. The ultimate goal is a safer and more nurturing city. Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney's Office has been working with clergy to organize the initiative, as has Lt. Jeffrey Silva of the Police Department.
While such initiatives may begin with clergy, they must involve all citizens – not just for one event or a single burst of energy, but over the long haul, where patience and commitment is required.
I have had Linda provide individual pocket-sized calendars of the various events being planned to address violence in New Bedford, as well as a larger calendar for coffee hour. I plan to be present for most of these events, and welcome anyone who would like to join me. This is just one way we can begin to make our own faith community look beyond itself and be present in the real world. In this time of fall harvest, we can reflect on the possibility that a harvest of justice must be sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. Let us be tillers of peace in our own community.
This is my New Bedford Journal for September 20th, 2009.