Children’s Choir from Second City in jazz worship service. Photo courtesy of PHEWA

The Detroit Gathering through the lens of congregation-based community organizing

By the Rev. Phil Tom
PC(USA) Small Church and Community Ministry Office

Phil Tom pulling pieces together. Photo courtesy of PHEWA

No doubt, at first, some of the participants attending the recent joint conference in Detroit between two PHEWA networks, the PADVN and PACT, were probably wondering how the issues of domestic violence and community organizing could fit together. However, by the end of this conference, the answer was more than evident as each network shared the impact of their work in the lives of individuals and communities.

Members of the Council of Clergywomen of Metropolitan Detroit Inc., co-organized by the Rev. Diane Smalley, pastor of the Gratiot Presbyterian Church in Detroit, explained how they utilize community organizing principles to build their broad-based church and community coalition to address the issue of domestic violence, not only on an individual level, but on a systemic level throughout Metro Detroit and the State of Michigan.

Members of this coalition spent time having numerous one-on-one conversations with survivors of domestic violence, church, community and agency leaders, and others who were engaged with the issue of domestic violence. Through these conversations, the coalition members built relationships by listening to the issues impacting persons who were survivors of domestic violence. In hearing these issues, the coalition did its research on how best to address some of these issues such as the lack of shelter and transitional housing for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Metro Detroit has fewer than 100 beds for women impacted by domestic violence. Working together with persons impacted by domestic violence, the Council of Clergywomen recruited community and church partners to develop and implement strategies on how to effectively address these issues, e.g., increasing public funding to provide more shelters, supportive services and transitional housing for persons involved in domestic violence situations. In building this powerful coalition, the leaders met initially with the mayor of Detroit and the governor of the state of Michigan. The Council of Clergywomen continued to periodically meet with the mayor’s office and had the opportunity to report their findings on the gaps in domestic violence services to several state of Michigan department heads. The latter meeting was organized by the governor’s office.

The Council of Clergywomen of Metropolitan Detroit is making a positive difference on the issue of domestic violence by its organizing work. But members of this coalition know that it still has a long way to go to eradicate the violence. The coalition knows that it cannot rest on its achievements, but must continue to do one-on-ones, listen for the issues, build relationships and partnerships, build a powerful coalition and implement effective campaigns if it is going to be successful in addressing the issues of domestic violence in Metro Detroit and in the state of Michigan.