|
My congregation assumes that it is made up of people who were raised middle and owning class. This shows up in unrealistic projections about contributions; assuming that the people who feel called to do mission work can afford to live on poverty-level wages; expressing concern for the poor in other countries but doing little for the poor in our own town; assuming that there are no economic gradations between homelessness and being middle class and college educated; choosing to locate our new church in a "nice" dowtown neighborhood instead of a mixed-class neighborhood; having a strong focus on members following written rules about being quiet, dispassionate,polite and inoffensive, and believing that these are rules about religious practice instead of cultural practices.
Our spiritual congregation struggles with the question of how to set member dues. We can more easily figure out the dollar amount we need annually to support our program than we can determine how to assess the membership for that amount so that congregants can pay according their circumstances and maintain their dignity - no intrusive questions asked. Although we are not a wealthy congregation, our membership spans the economic spectrum. We have lost some members as we wrestle with this and gained others. Many, like myself, are proud that we are dealing with the issue but worried about meeting our expenses. As we struggle to `do the right thing' there are real practical considerations. For example, we have had to rely more on volunteers and have reduced our paid staff.
I was after the age of ten in a Unitarian Church that my father felt respected for his intellect. Having only an eighth grade education and beng largely self taught, he was never recognized for his intelligence in the factory where worked or in his ethnic surroundings. At this church his curious mind was acknowledged and he felt welcomed. I, however, felt alone and unacceptable. the other children came from families of professionals. I couldn't afford to do what they did; nor did I understand all that their priviledges brought them. I continue to attend a U-U church but still feel out of step as they do not care to associate with white working class people.
Growing up in Decatur, IL, I belonged to Our Lady of Lourdes - a mostly middle class parish on the northside of town. In High School, I had a job answering phones at the church rectory during off hours. It was during the AE Staley lockout when Decatur became know as the "War Zone." One Saturday afternoon, I got a call from Sr. Glenda over at St. James Parish - the mostly working class parish in the heart of town. She wanted to see if I could ask one of the priests to help cover mass that evening and possibly tomorrow. She said that Fr. Mangan was probably going to be arrested that day - which is exactly what happened. Fr. Mangan stood in solidarity with the workers - many of them his parishoners - and so he chained himself to the gates of the factory. I was blown away by Fr. Mangan's involvement and I remember asking the priests at my parish what they thought about his actions. They politely assured me that Fr. Mangan was out of line and it was not the place of a pastor to act so irresponsibly. Faith and action and class all came into focus for me through this experience. Both priests professed the same faith but reflected the different class interests of their respective parishes. I liked my parish priest, but I came to see his avoidance of the most political issue in our community to be in reality a very real, and political choice on his part - he was not neutral. And Fr. Mangan made no secret his views on what people of faith should do in the face brutal injustice. Without the example of Fr. Mangan & Sr. Glenda, I doubt I could still consider myself religious.
Although I do not attend the same church as my friend who is American born West Indian in NYC (also a recent grad from one of the five colleges) her view is that people should go to church in their "sunday best" no matter what; That this shows their respect "for themselves" and for God. My problem with this idea (also coming from a community of people that wish to be socially mobile) that many have is that I fear many are barred from entering the church at the time that best suits them (after work) and their families because they need to wear what appears to be patent leather shoes and a white dress shirt. Not everyone has this in their wardrobe. The bigger point is that clothes is viewed as thing through which a person is judged by their congregation and for those who lack the finances to invest in such clothes or the luxury of time to change into these clothes, they are being unfairly treated. If the only shoes someone owns is a pair of paint-splattered timberland boots, why can't they enter the church to praise God?
Read earlier survey responses:
February 2006: How do class differences impact your relationships?
January 2006: What privileges should we all have?
Are there any privileges none of us should have?
December 2005 Survey Question:
How do class issues come up for you during the end-of-year "consumer" holidays?
November 2005 Survey Question: Please tell us about your experiences of class, class differences, and classism in your education/school.
October 2005: Tell us about a time you've either been an ally to someone or had someone be an ally to you around issues of class.
September 2005: What are the ways you see the race and class divisions exposed by Katrina?
August 2005: What class did you grow up in? What was good or bad about your class experience growing up?
July 2005: What are your strongest memories connecting race and class?
June 2005: The New York Times and Wall Street Journal each ran their own series on class. What is your response to the recent press on class?
May 2005: The good, the bad, and the ugly of cross-class relating
|
