Readers, I had occasion to do this story, though it takes place in the Northwest Washington Synod. - Rachel Pritchett
SEATTLE - A North Seattle church whose members have decided to host a temporary tent city is feeling intense heat from neighbors, but is resolved to live its mission.
Signs have surrounded Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in this usually bucolic neighborhood saying, "Burn in Hell, Maple Leaf Lutheran" and "Please be Good Neighbors; No Tent City."
Neighbors have intimidated Maple Leaf members trying to get to worship with aggressive questioning while handing out 65-page booklets stating the case against a tent city. They’ve strewn nails across the church parking lot, and even driven vehicles next to a recent outdoor Oktoberfest and set off car alarms, according to the Rev. Julie Blum of Maple Leaf Lutheran.
"I want to think I can give humanity more credit," said Pastor Blum, adding that everyone is encumbered by sin. "I think their biggest concern was they didn’t have a say in the matter."
Tent City 3 is a legally sanctioned traveling homeless encampment that’s operated for many years in Seattle. It is operated by SHARE/WHEEL, the Seattle Housing and Resource Efforts and Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhancement League.
SHARE/WHEEL, always having to search for venues on which the tent city can live for 90 days before moving on, asked the congregation if it would be willing to be a host.
On Sept. 19, some 80 percent of members voted yes as about 50 protesters milled outside. The congregation served them coffee and donuts, but that didn’t bridge the gulf of misunderstanding. The congregation had a long history of helping the homeless, having housed homeless people in the church basement for the past 15 years.
The face-off with neighbors has left its mark, with congregants having to answer how the camp would benefit the community, since there are few grocery stores in the neighborhood to serve the camp, and how it could ensure that children living in homes nearby would be safe.
"We try to claim that they don’t know that about their neighbors now," Pastor Blum said.
A church tent-city task force has received intimidating e-mails, threats of lawsuits and at least one house-egging, and remains weary but solid in resolve. One neighbor threatened to move should the tent city come.
"We’re trying to do something good, and we’re being met with hostility," Pastor Blum said. "Jesus said it wasn’t going to be easy, but this is what we were called to do."Meanwhile, the standoff, and the opposition the congregation met 15 years ago when it began putting homeless people in its basement, has changed the congregation forever.
Blum says it’s become more "outward focused," doing things like becoming supporters of the Lake City Holiday Project, which provides Christmas gifts to low-income children.
"I think that we are realizing in a world that has needs that the church can address, the church can respond instead of just getting caught up in ourselves," she said.
Meanwhile, Tent City 3, made up of 100 or so destitute adult men and women, is set to move to the Maple Leaf Lutheran parking lot. The nails will be all cleared, just hours after America celebrates Thanksgiving with turkey with all the trimmings.
"If we’re going to be disciples of Jesus, we’re going to follow his lead," the pastor said.
Signs have surrounded Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in this usually bucolic neighborhood saying, "Burn in Hell, Maple Leaf Lutheran" and "Please be Good Neighbors; No Tent City."
Neighbors have intimidated Maple Leaf members trying to get to worship with aggressive questioning while handing out 65-page booklets stating the case against a tent city. They’ve strewn nails across the church parking lot, and even driven vehicles next to a recent outdoor Oktoberfest and set off car alarms, according to the Rev. Julie Blum of Maple Leaf Lutheran.
"I want to think I can give humanity more credit," said Pastor Blum, adding that everyone is encumbered by sin. "I think their biggest concern was they didn’t have a say in the matter."
Tent City 3 is a legally sanctioned traveling homeless encampment that’s operated for many years in Seattle. It is operated by SHARE/WHEEL, the Seattle Housing and Resource Efforts and Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhancement League.
SHARE/WHEEL, always having to search for venues on which the tent city can live for 90 days before moving on, asked the congregation if it would be willing to be a host.
On Sept. 19, some 80 percent of members voted yes as about 50 protesters milled outside. The congregation served them coffee and donuts, but that didn’t bridge the gulf of misunderstanding. The congregation had a long history of helping the homeless, having housed homeless people in the church basement for the past 15 years.
The face-off with neighbors has left its mark, with congregants having to answer how the camp would benefit the community, since there are few grocery stores in the neighborhood to serve the camp, and how it could ensure that children living in homes nearby would be safe.
"We try to claim that they don’t know that about their neighbors now," Pastor Blum said.
A church tent-city task force has received intimidating e-mails, threats of lawsuits and at least one house-egging, and remains weary but solid in resolve. One neighbor threatened to move should the tent city come.
"We’re trying to do something good, and we’re being met with hostility," Pastor Blum said. "Jesus said it wasn’t going to be easy, but this is what we were called to do."Meanwhile, the standoff, and the opposition the congregation met 15 years ago when it began putting homeless people in its basement, has changed the congregation forever.
Blum says it’s become more "outward focused," doing things like becoming supporters of the Lake City Holiday Project, which provides Christmas gifts to low-income children.
"I think that we are realizing in a world that has needs that the church can address, the church can respond instead of just getting caught up in ourselves," she said.
Meanwhile, Tent City 3, made up of 100 or so destitute adult men and women, is set to move to the Maple Leaf Lutheran parking lot. The nails will be all cleared, just hours after America celebrates Thanksgiving with turkey with all the trimmings.
"If we’re going to be disciples of Jesus, we’re going to follow his lead," the pastor said.
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