October Tower Echoes: Outreach Update
The sale of the former Phinney House will benefit our church community for years to come. When the conversation turned to a tithe of the sale proceeds, we began considering the communities in our city who—due to racist policies such as redlining, and the injustice of broken treaties—have been denied the same opportunity to grow wealth and retain property. The Race and Equity Team, along with the church council, prayed, discerned, and developed a plan to contribute a tithe of $80,000 to be split into 3 areas. We’ll tithe $10,000 to our synod to be dedicated specifically to race and equity work. The remaining amount will be split evenly into two gifts benefiting two very important Seattle organizations.
The Nehemiah Initiative is a church-led, community-based group whose goal is to empower and expand opportunities for the black community hit hard by gentrification in the Central District. The group was founded by Pastor Garry Tyson of Goodwill Baptist Church, one of seven remaining historically black churches in the area collectively owning seven acres of undeveloped land. They seek to use these real estate assets to develop affordable mixed-use projects including housing, commercial space, green areas, and renewed church buildings. The Initiative aims to stem the loss of black-owned property in the CD, while providing the essential services that sustain a community.
Our second tithing organization is Real Rent Duwamish. The Duwamish Tribal Services was established as a 501[c]3 in 1983 in order to “promote the social, cultural, and economic survival of the Duwamish tribe.” The Duwamish do not currently have federal recognition - which would provide them the rights of self-government and entitle them to receive federal benefits, services, and protections. They have about 600 enrolled tribal members at the present time and donations to Real Rent Duwamish, run by volunteers at the Duwamish Solidarity Group, provides services to the members of the Duwamish tribe as well as contributing to improvements to their longhouse on West Marginal Way which acts as a museum (free to the public), event space, and community center.
In addition to the church tithe, we have created a campaign for YOU to contribute to this cause. What’s different about this tithe is that it’s not about charitable giving, it’s about reparations. We have profited from racist real estate policy and from mistreatment of indigenous people. This project is meant to address those injustices by an act benefiting those communities. Perhaps some of your resources and wealth has a root in these injustices as well? Will you consider a monetary contribution as an act of justice? Watch for ways to give online or by check in the coming weeks, or contact Minister of Outreach Patrick Meagher for more details.
