THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610250208
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 206 lines
MAYOR JAMES W. HOLLEY has called on Portsmouth churches to play a greater part in moving the city forward.
There are 247 religious institutions in the city, according to the city assessor's office.
That number gets thrown out a lot when people talk about problems in the city and who can or should help solve them.
If all of the city's approximately 102,000 residents were active members of financially thriving churches, they probably could go a long way toward meeting the community's social needs.
But only a fraction of the city's population fall into the fold of active church life.
We talked to several ministers and, all in all, they agreed with the mayor that churches could do more.
Some actually appreciated the mayor's recognition of the church's ability to play a big part in strengthening the quality of life in Portsmouth.
Many churches talked about ways they already are trying to cooperate with each other in programs and ministries aimed at making a difference.
One problem ``is that people who aren't attending church - or at least not an active one - don't necessarily realize the work that is being done,'' said the Rev. Geoffrey Hahneman, rector of Trinity Episcopal, the city's oldest church.
``Part of that is our own fault, and I think that's where the mayor can help - where he can force us to talk to each other and tell the larger community what we're doing,'' he said. ``We don't promote ourselves very well.
``I hope the mayor realizes his biggest contribution is getting the word out on what is going on.''
About a dozen clergymen and directors of ministries were contacted to get a sampling of some of the programs and services churches are involved in. These are their responses:
Ebenezer Baptist Church (The Rev. Ben Beamer):
Built and continues to run Ebenezer Plaza, an apartment complex that provides affordable housing in the community.
Planning with neighboring Mount Olive Baptist Church to build senior citizens complex near both churches as part of Vision 2005. Both churches interested in playing a part in the improvement of the downtown community since they have been anchored in their neighborhood for a combined total of more than 200 years.
Grove Baptist Church (The Rev. Melvin Marriner):
Houses Churchland Child Opportunity, a Head Start program.
Rites of Passage program for teen-age boys.
Save the Seed, a similar program for teen-age girls.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial United Methodist Church (The Rev. Reginald Early):
Training members to offer Project Light, a Bible-based literacy program.
Eight-week summer enrichment program designed to provide wholesome activities for children - from recreation and cultural offerings to field trips.
One of six churches that shelter homeless.
New Mount Vernon Baptist Church (The Rev. Vernon S. Lee):
One of the church's visions for the future is to build a gymnasium to serve young people, seniors and others in the community.
Church members have participated in Face to Face With Race study circle with members of West End United Methodist Church. Plans have been made to continue the relationship, with ministers switching pulpits one Sunday and the two choirs merging for a special concert.
Minister is member of Triad Committee, sponsored by the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office, geared to reducing crime against the elderly.
Oasis Social Ministries:
Began as a thrift shop 26 years ago, started by a lay group from St. Paul's Catholic Church with support from five Catholic parishes in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
Now at 1020 High St., Oasis has outgrown other locations and offers those in need everything from food and clothing to financial assistance.
The ministry has evolved into an interdenominational effort drawing support from 28 churches and synagogues.
Just as important are the contributions of volunteer time and money that individual church members make, according to Oasis director Evelyn Screeney.
One woman Oasis staff members refer to as ``our cereal lady'' brings in 30 to 35 boxes of cereal every month, Screeney said.
``This is her ministry,'' she said.
Churches and church groups sign up on a rotating schedule to provide food and serve in the Oasis soup kitchen on the weekend.
The soup kitchen is open Mondays through Thursdays and also is served by other individuals and organizations. Nearby Third Baptist Church provides the meal at its location on Fridays.
A local synagogue, Temple Sinai, has done the Oasis meal on Christmas for about six years.
Pinecrest Baptist Church (The Rev. Thomas Potter):
With Chesapeake church offers MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers), a program that provides activities for children while their mothers take part in a support group.
Neighborhood Watch meets at the church.
Recently sponsored reception for teachers in the community.
Considering an after-school program in church gymnasium for students from Wilson High School.
Sponsors free winterizing car inspection for widows and the elderly.
Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless:
The organization includes churches and individuals working to solve the problem of homelessness in the city.
Churches that actually shelter the homeless on a rotating schedule are Trinity Episcopal, First Presbyterian, St. Paul's Catholic, Monumental United Methodist and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial United Methodist churches in Portsmouth, and St. Therese's Catholic Church in Chesapeake.
In addition, Zion Baptist Church offers a morning drop-in center three days a week where the homeless can eat breakfast, take a shower, get clothes from the clothes closet or wash those they are wearing.
Eighteen churches in Portsmouth and Chesapeake serve as support churches, offering volunteers to stay the night at the shelter or serve dinner.
Portsmouth Area Resources Coalition:
About 60 churches and synagogues are actively involved in the organization, which provides food, shelter and emergency assistance to those in need.
PARC also serves as a clearinghouse for public and private agencies to avoid duplication of services and to prevent abuses.
The coalition sponsors the PARC Place Shelter for homeless families, which serves about 250 people a year and has about 12 properties it uses as transitional housing for families leaving the shelter and trying to become self-sufficient.
PARC also coordinates the weekend meals served to about 8,000 people a year at Oasis.
St. Andrew's United Methodist Church (The Rev. Joseph Savinsky):
Support church for homeless shelters.
Collects wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and other types of hospital equipment to loan to sick and elderly in the community.
Set up and continues to increase a discretionary fund to provide emergency assistance (mostly for fuel) to people in the community.
Takes food to the Wesley Community Center and provides some volunteers to the urban ministry.
Provides space for an area prison ministry that meets monthly. A couple of church members are active in the ministry.
Does its own holiday angel tree project geared to providing toys, clothing and a religious gift to families of prison inmates.
Young at Heart senior citizens group serves whole community.
Planning stages of an AIDS Awareness program.
Trying to improve outreach to elderly in church, providing transportation to medical appointments and regular checks on welfare of those members.
Children's Choir program serves whole community.
Simonsdale Presbyterian Church (The Rev. Matt Matthews):
Support church for homeless shelters.
Pastor has participated in Face to Face With Race study circles and hopes to get church members involved.
Celebrating 25th anniversary of church pre-school started during the days when kindergarten was not offered in public schools.
Serves meals at Oasis three to five times a year.
Temple Sinai (Rabbi Arthur Steinberg):
Takes part in feeding of poor at Oasis.
If the synagogue or individual members have a dinner or celebration, 3 percent of funds spent on that occasion are donated to Mazon, a national organization that gives to food banks and trauma-stricken areas of the country and world.
Participates, along with the Church of the Resurrection and St. Therese's Catholic Church, in the monthly preparation of 200 dinners for Full Circle, a group that delivers the meals to families in need - especially those dealing with HIV disease in the family.
Wesley Community Service Center:
A national mission project of the United Methodist Church offering nutritional meals for the elderly and homebound, emergency assistance for those who need help resettling and individual counseling.
The ministry also offers affordable child-care services, after-school tutorial programs and adult education classes.
The first center was started in 1937 in Newtown and is now located at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial United Methodist Church in Prentis Park.
Funded by the United Methodist Church and United Way of South Hampton Roads, Wesley also receives help from about 20 to 25 churches of other denominations in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
Zion Baptist Church (The Rev. H. Edward Whitaker):
Developing Family Life Center in a nearby vacated furniture store, designed to serve the community with everything from adult care and a latch-key program for children to substance-abuse counseling and parenting workshops.
Already runs the Zion Drop-In Center - with the help of volunteers and funds from other churches - provides the homeless a hot breakfast, a shower and a chance to wash clothes or get new ones from clothes closet. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JIM WALKER
``People who aren't attending church - or at least not an active one
- don't necessarily realize the work that is being done,'' said the
Rev. Geoffrey Hahneman, rector of Trinity Episcopal, the city's
oldest church. ``...I hope the mayor realizes his biggest
contribution is getting the word out on what is going on.''
Zion Baptist Church, led by The Rev. H. Edward Whitaker, is
developing a Family Life Center in this vacated furniture store,
which is being renovated.
The Rev. Matt Matthews is mininster at Simonsdale Prebyterian.
The Rev. Veron S. Lee is pastor at New Mount Veron Baptist Church.
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
The Rev. Thomas Potter, pastor of Pinecrest Baptist Church, prepares
for a pig pickin'. His church, along with one in Chesapeake, offers
MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers), a program that provides activities
for children while their mothers take part in a support group. by CNB