REFLECTIONS ON THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE ON POVERTY
PRESENTED AT FIRST THURSDAY MEETING, JUNE 4, 2020
PASTOR LINDA QUANSTROM
FREMONT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
As I reflect on the nature and work of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty since its inception I think first of the original invitation that was extended to Fremont United Methodist Church and the conversation I had with Carol Turner and David Goff.
I was so impressed with them and with Westminster for wanting to organize a coalition of churches interested in addressing poverty. Fremont was thrilled to be invited and eager to be part of such an effort. I have been impressed since with Carol and David’s leadership and with the ready response of other congregations, synagogues and faith leaders.
The Donna Beagle Forum certainly educated a lot of us to the realities of generational poverty and the world view, suspicions and cautions that such poverty has instilled in those with little hope of anything better.
The Alliance quickly entered into the fray with respect to the Oak Leaf Mobile Home Park to advocate for the residents of that Court in an effort to fend off the purchase and development of that Court. It organized trips to Salem to engage with legislators advocating for policies friendly to people on the margins. Representatives from agencies on the front line of direct service were invited to speak and educate us to their work and the needs they sought to remediate.
The commitment demonstrated by aligned churches and synagogues has been nothing short of amazing. Sometimes loose alliance such as this lose steam, not so with the Interfaith Alliance. The circle of active participants has widened well beyond our specific congregations to include interested individuals and members of other organizations.
It has been an impressive effort.
And not to minimize this incredible work, the Alliance was slow to connect racial disparity with poverty. Fortunately, that link is now firmly integrated in our effort. Another challenge has been to expand to our respective congregants and members, what we, who attend the meetings, have learned from our speakers.
A challenge the Alliance faces going forward is building a more unified front by enlisting the energy and resources of our respective congregations and participating organizations without encroaching on or diluting their own ministry priorities. We have to figure out how to build on the collaborative ethos we’ve developed even as we preserve specific congregational interests.
Respectfully submitted
Linda Quanstrom
Retiring Pastor of Fremont United Methodist Church
June, 2020