SUNDAY, March 26, 2023
“A Home for ALL in the Beloved Community
Equitable Development and Housing in Pittsburgh”
BERKELEY HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH
(517 SANGREE ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15237)
In-Person & Live Streamed
4 PM
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Asa Lee Preaching
President, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
5 PM
Food Truck
The Little Free Food Truck
A ministry of House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Aliquippa PA
6 PM
Panel Discussion
Local & National Representatives
ELCA, 1HOOD, City of Bridges Community Land Trust, & More
Childcare will be available.
(See Also: Pre-Event on March 25 “Learn, Advocate, Build”)
Community Partners:
Worship Service | 4 PM
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an ecumenical service of Holy Communion to which all are welcome. The service will encourage membership of the SWPA synod and the synod's partners to be engaged actively in the practice of nonviolence in our continuing efforts to build the Beloved Community in Pittsburgh. The focus of this year’s service is “A Home for ALL in the Beloved Community.”
Presiding:
Bishop Kurt Kusserow
Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Bishop Abraham Allende
Northeastern Ohio Synod, Retired
Preaching
Rev. Dr. Asa J. Lee
President, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
and Professor of Theological Formation for Ministry
Dr. Lee, an ordained Baptist minister, previously served as vice president for campus administration, associate dean for community life, and director of African American studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He was licensed by the Faith Shepherd Baptist Church of Washington, D.C., and ordained by the Mount Olive Baptist Church of Arlington, Virginia., where he served for 10 years as the assistant pastor and minister of Christian education. Dr. Lee is a graduate of Hampton University in Virginia, where he majored in music education. He holds a master of divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and a doctorate in ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary.
Food Truck | 5 PM
Little Free Food Truck, A ministry of House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Aliquippa PA
Nachos will be available for FREE following the worship service. Donations will be accepted from those who wish to give.
Panel Discussion | 6 PM
Dr. King’s Vision of the Beloved Community entails a home for all, especially those who are denied adequate housing due to poverty, injustice, and a lack of access to basic community resources. Pittsburgh is currently experiencing a crisis due to the lack of affordable housing. Homelessness has increased by 20% in 2022-2023 and “underhoused” persons are pushed to the edges of our communities both literally and metaphorically. Many see the Pittsburgh Region as one of the most “liveable communities” in the nation, but this is not true for those who cannot afford to stay stably housed in our communities. How would Dr. King “see” this situation and what is our response as people of God?
“A Home for ALL in the Beloved Community”
Panel Discussion on Equitable Development and Housing in Pittsburgh
& Small Group Conversation with Housing Experts in Pittsburgh
Brooke DeJong
Program Assistant for Hunger/Housing Education,
ELCA World Hunger Team
Muhammad Ali Nasir (Man-E)
Advocacy & Policy, Civic Engagement Coordinator, Emcee, 1HOOD
Karen Snair
Executive Director, Allegheny Valley Association of Churches
Tracey DePasquale
Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPA)
Crystal Jennings-Rivera
Stewardship & Community Engagement Manager, City of Bridges Community Land Trust
Rev. Ed Sheehan
Habitat for Humanity
Rev. Mike Sourwine
Pastor, House of Prayer Lutheran Church
Stephanie Murdoch
House of Prayer Lutheran Church, The Little Free Food Truck
Ongoing Service and Advocacy Engagements to Honor Dr. King and his Legacy
Dr. King encourages us to grow in our engagement to create racial justice, civil rights, and a peace-filled, nonviolent community for ALL.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW WE CAN LIVE OUT THIS LEGACY IN SPECIFIC WAYS IN THE WORK OF ADDRESSING HOUSING FOR ALL IN OUR REGION
Study the ELCA’s new Housing Resource: https://blogs.elca.org/worldhunger/housing/
Be present to local ministries among people who are experiencing housing insecurity
Join synod congregations and ecumenical and interfaith partners in the reparations work of Bethel AME (check in with Martin Rafanan, mjr9201@gmail.com)
Advocate for affordable housing legislation through LAMPA; support local affordable housing legislation (such as inclusionary zoning); support equitable action through local housing authorities
Join in the work of building new housing and renovating existing housing through Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together
2022 recommendations for ongoing action in support of the King Legacy >>
Share With Your Congregation
Spread the word within your own communities! Download any digital tools that maybe helpful to encourage attendance from your congregation.
Flyer >>
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