|
A Letter from Lowell:
Greetings! I wish you all could have been with us on March 5th for our Community Forum on “Cultures of the Night” in the East Village. We already knew, of course, that the area’s nightlife is thoroughly mixed up with the gentrification, upscale building, and influx of new residents and consumers that make the Lower East Side—especially the East Village—a “destination.” We had heard concern from churches that members—and some churches!—have been hit with steep rent increases as the area’s popularity has increased. We’d heard congregation members worry about nightlife “temptations” and pressures on their youth, and also about worries that traditional communal ties have being disrupted by increasing numbers of bars and by evening visitors. Even so, we in EOL were impressed with the intensity of concern the community residents expressed about many issues connected to the area’s nightlife. Some said specifically that Hispanics are increasingly being crowded eastward and southward, or forced out altogether. (See article below for more on cultural conflict felt by Hispanic churches.) Others talked about the reduction of green spaces, the scarcity of housing that’s affordable for middle income folks (not just the poor), and inadequate services for youth. These are political issues, and a Rutgers professor present asked if congregations are responding politically. We shared that we have found few congregations addressing area nightlife, development or gentrification politically. It was not that residents voicing these concerns wanted the East Village to go back the poverty, much less the drug culture, of the 70s and 80s! Indeed, some—including congregational representatives—celebrated the vitality and opportunity resulting from more people, more security, more innovation, and more money. But the main theme was how to preserve the deeply rooted values of this community and—as Councilwoman Rosie Mendez put it—to prevent displacement of its people. (For a full report on the Forum, please visit (www.ecologiesoflearning.org) Picking up on one of the issues raised here, the next LES Community Forum (announcement below) will focus on Youth and the ways religious communities and public agencies can cooperate to promote healthy youth development. Obviously, what we’re learning together in the Lower East Side will benefit congregations and communities everywhere that experience the impact of economic change—which can be disruptive, even when it’s positive. Please join us—in person if possible, or on the website—and let us know what you’re thinking. Sincerely, |
Hispanic Congregations in the East Village:
EOL has researched how congregations interact with nightlife in the East Village since October, 2006. I joined the project in December, as the primary researcher studying Hispanic congregations. Since then, 16 Hispanic churches in the East Village, including Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, and Methodist congregations, have participated in the study. Several interesting themes have surfaced. Church leaders believe they are promoting values that are different from those held by people partaking in the area’s nightlife. Of the 16 churches I spoke with, 13 teach abstinence from alcohol, either due to theology or because of health problems around alcohol consumption in Hispanic communities. Churches are also working to promote religious practice. According to Corey Morgan, Youth Minister of Iglesia de Dios, fighting the bars directly is less important than connecting youth with God: “With bars it’s not a competition, I’m not playing on the defensive, I’m playing offensive. I want youth to be doing the work of God. There’s a lot to do, I don’t want to have to fight the bars. If I fight the bars to be quiet, it won’t bring them closer to God." Area popularity has increased rent. A number of congregations have been unable to afford higher rents and have left the area. Many say landlords prefer renting to bars rather than churches. Numerous pastors emphasized that when a neighborhood loses churches it loses all the relationships connected to that church. According to Rev. Julio Calcaño of El Divino Maestro: “The saddest thing in this community is that the political leaders won’t take responsibility. There is a lack of support for churches. There used to be more protection for the church. Now, if there is a building violation the city wants to shut us down rather than work with the church. When spiritual life is gone from a community that community dies spiritually.” The night culture of the East Village has provided unique challenges to local congregations and similarly the pastors have developed unique solutions. In response to increasing numbers of bars and pressure to drink alcohol, pastors have developed engaging youth programs on Friday nights. To cope with rising rents, some Hispanic congregations share buildings. In a neighborhood of constant change Hispanic pastors have worked hard to create a space that embraces their communities and their beliefs. |
Portrait of Churches in Little Korea By K. Christine Pae The growth of the Korean church and population has been remarkably visible since the 1965 Immigration Act. However, there are few resources of Koreans and their churches in Metropolitan New York, and especially little on the relationship between Korean Churches and their local communities. EOL research on Korean churches fills this void. My research investigates three components of Korean churches. It focuses first on the social realities of Korean churches in Flushing where diverse immigrants learn how to live together while creating spaces of their own. Secondly, the research attempts to grasp the robust picture of Korean churches, describing diverse characteristics and commonalities found among these churches. Thirdly, it investigates the cultural issues which Korean churches face. Flushing is a great place to conduct research on contemporary Korean-American religions. Flushing contains St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang Roman Catholic Church, the largest and oldest Korean Catholic Church in Northeast, with 2000 parishioners attending Sunday Mass. My research on St. Paul’s has considered the less-known side of Korean Christianity: Catholicism. Especially after the Los Angeles Riot in 1992, Koreans in Metropolitan New York have expressed interest in domestic matters such as racial tension between Koreans and other people of color, immigration laws, and minority rights. We have identified several Korean religious organizations that are particularly socially-active. Siloam Reformed Church of NY, for example, is located on the corner of Union and Northern where Koreatown meets the rapidly expanding Chinatown. This church has responded to its location – Siloam Reformed Church makes its building available to Korean and Chinese senior citizens throughout the week. First United Methodist Church at Flushing, the biggest local church in the UMC New York Conference with 1500 members, has actively served various communities in Flushing and abroad. The church opens its door to larger society so that it might be a responsible participant in U.S. society as a Korean church. My research has found that all Korean churches in Flushing somewhat struggle with gender issues, generational transition, and the changing environment of Flushing. I look forward to learning more about the joys and trials of these churches, as they engage their local areas and confront struggles shared by many immigrant churches.  St. Paul Chong HaSang Roman Catholic Church |
WHAT’S HAPPENING "Religion, Youth and the Justice System" - Thursday, April 12, 2007 at Iglesia Primitiva / Primitive Church (207-209 East Broadway New York, NY 10002 - directions attached) 4:30pm - 7:00pm. We have organized a stellar lineup of speakers: Rev. Alfonso Wyatt Judge Michael Corriero Dr. Angela Moses, Uth-Turn Executive Director Representative from NYPD Clergy Liaison Representative from Correctional Association of New York This forum is an opportunity to gain knowledge about the Juvenile Justice System and obtain community resources available to youth. We appreciate your continued cooperation and support. Please contact EOL Project Coordinator, Shirvahna Gobin (212-870-1208 or sgobin@nyts.edu) with questions, comments or to confirm your attendance. "When Urban is Global: Making the City your Campus " - June 14-24, 2007. A seminar for seminary faculty. For information contact Dr. Lowell W Livezey, llivezey@nyts.edu |
