Posing the contemporary problem

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Title page
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Posing the contemporary problem

• Our purpose here is to explore the role of
  established religious communities in local
  economic development and urban renewal
• When attempts are made to classify established
  religious communities, their descriptions are
  impoverished and their public roles reduced to
  limited social services providers.
• Lacking the language to express the true
  character of churches, we miss significant
  opportunities to better understand the realities
  of urban life, and to better serve the needs of
  our cities.
• Hamilton is our case study

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Hamilton Vision 2020
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Hamilton Downtown Secondary Plan
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A Social Vision for the New City of Hamilton

• The church is not a factor in this document

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A Social Vision for the New City of Hamilton

• We are beginning to understand some of the
  implications of this research. It means that
  there is a need to create or support
  opportunities for people to come together for
  social, educational, recreational or cultural
  purposes. It also means that there is value in
  fostering partnerships among various
  organizations and sectors, particularly among
  those who may not have worked together in the
  past
• - A Social Vision for the
• New City of Hamilton

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Our Hypothesis

• Wherever active and growing churches can be
  found, there can also be found seeds of urban
  renewal and economic growth.

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Changing horizons in scholarship

• New Urbanism and the Church
• Spiritual Capital
• Creative Class
• Restless Gods

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The power of institutions in urban renewal

• Scan key institutions/organizations at work in
  urban centres
• Measure potential, influence, and capacity of
  urban institutions
• Advance a rich texture of institutions at work

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• The Church is the most sophisticated institution
  capable of delivering the visions laid out by
  city leaders for urban renewal.

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Why?

• Transcending social boundaries
• Community engagement and service
• Drawing membership to live downtown
• Private investment
• Sacred spaces

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Conclusion

• Established religious communities churches,
  synagogues, mosques, and the like are
  institutions with a critical role to play in
  urban life. This is not a plea to recover what
  once was, but to recognize what presently is.

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Conclusion

• 5 key questions for city leaders seeking urban
  revitalization
• Can Churches
• grow community?
• promote community service?
• attract people to live downtown?
• draw private investment?
• add beauty to the physical appearance of the
  community?
• What do you think?

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Thank you
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Responses

• Vanessa GrupeSenior Planner, City of Hamilton
• Jeff Neven
• Director of Operations, Homestead Christian
  Homes
• Brad Clark VP Development, St. Peters Foundation
• Jim PetersonRoy A. Hope Chair in Theology,
  Ethics and Christian Worldview, McMaster Divinity
  College

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Vanessa Grupe

• Engaging stakeholders and interest groups is
  especially important to the Planning Department
• Church is conspicuous by its absence
• Church is capable of contributing in both local
  issues and city-wide matters

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The Limited Role of the Church

• Church is seen more in the physical sense than
  the social or spiritual sense, as property owner
• But it's not even a player in matters of planning
  or vision
• Why the disconnect?
• Congregations and denominations seem to compete
• Decision makers consider other perspectives more
  important
• Church / State separation may be a factor

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A Heightened Role for the Church

• Citizen input and volunteering is scarce
• The church is an enormous source of energy,
  resources and commitment

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Implementing New Urbanism

• What makes a community truly "walkable"?
• Uncommon to examine how churches can be
  incorporated not only as landmarks, but as
  centres of community life

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Conclusions

• Could a ministerial association or other
  affiliation of churches be used as points of
  contact?
• Consider developing an advisory committee for
  church relations on city affairs
• Encourage City staff, especially urban renewal
  planners, to consider church communities in
  consultation

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Responses

• Vanessa GrupeSenior Planner, City of Hamilton
• Jeff Neven
• Director of Operations, Homestead Christian
  Homes
• Brad Clark VP Development, St. Peters Foundation
• Jim PetersonRoy A. Hope Chair in Theology,
  Ethics and Christian Worldview, McMaster Divinity
  College

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Homestead Christian Care

• Founded and dedicated to the community and those
  suffering with mental illness.
• Operating at arms length from any specific church
  or faith community.
• Utilizing and connecting faith community
  resources for the benefit of the broader
  community.

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Benefits of Faith Community Participation for
those with mental illness.  

• Assistance navigating the god questions
• Integration and acceptance into the community
  (Place of Belonging)
• Long-term support.  Caring folks, walking
  alongside.
• Connections into the broader community (eg.
  Employment)

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Case Study

• Housing From Transitional to Permanent
• Employment From sporadic to full-time well paid
• Transportation Team of drivers
• Child Care Family opened home
• Addiction Treatment Access to treatment

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Responses

• Vanessa GrupeSenior Planner, City of Hamilton
• Jeff Neven
• Director of Operations, Homestead Christian
  Homes
• Brad Clark VP Development, St. Peters Foundation
• Jim PetersonRoy A. Hope Chair in Theology,
  Ethics and Christian Worldview, McMaster Divinity
  College

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Brad Clark

• Governments have unspoken expectation of, and
  dependence on, faith communities for social
  programs
• Yet faith communities are not invited to dialogue
• Politicians consult with businesses, social
  agencies, and academics...
• ...why not a pro-active inter-faith council?

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Responses

• Vanessa GrupeSenior Planner, City of Hamilton
• Jeff Neven
• Director of Operations, Homestead Christian
  Homes
• Brad Clark VP Development, St. Peters Foundation
• Jim PetersonRoy A. Hope Chair in Theology,
  Ethics and Christian Worldview, McMaster Divinity
  College