In an effort to thrust themselves further into everyday life and the community, more than 10 Berkshire religious organizations are banding together around social issues affecting the region.Over the past two and a half years, Berkshire County religious organizations have been meeting in hopes of officially forming Berkshire Interfaith Organizing. The goal is to address the root causes of poverty in the region. Wendy Krom is the group’s lead organizer.
“Within the congregations that have been active they have been having 1-on-1 conversations with one another and also small group meetings which we call ‘house meetings’ with folks within their congregation and the community around what is it like to live in this economy in this region,” Krom said. “The issues that arose from those conversations really centered around hunger or food insecurity and transportation.”
Krom says many of the issues revolve around low state and federal funding levels in a region with a declining population. One result is a public transportation system that shuts down overnight and has limited weekend service, affecting people’s ability to travel for work. She says there are some 500 families who go to the food pantry at Pittsfield’s South Congregational Church any given week.
“That’s astounding,” Krom said. “So we want to know why is that and how can we change that?”
Leaders of Berkshire Interfaith Organizing plan gather monthly while Issue Teams with specific focus areas will meet as needed. Part of the initiative also aims to make religious organizations more impactful beyond the walls of their sanctuaries.
“When we talk about shrinking religion, those congregations that are either growing, thriving or maintaining is because they’re relevant to their parishioners,” Krom said. “It’s being involved in their community outside of just the church.”
Reverend Jennifer Gregg is the associate rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Pittsfield, one of 11 founding religious organizations that stretch across Berkshire County.
“One of the benefits of being involved in Berkshire Organizing to date has been that congregations have been really getting to know each other better,” Gregg said. “And I think thinking about working together more collaboratively as we work on addressing these larger issues. It’s a gift that Berkshire Organizing has provided.”
Like others, Gregg’s church operates St. Stephen’s Table, which provides hot dinners two days a week and bagged lunches, serving some 200 people. She also helps lead Cathedral in the Night, a weekly outdoor worship service on St. Joe’s lawn in downtown Pittsfield every Sunday. Launched in September, it draws about 80 people, dropping to a committed 25 during the winter.
“Just to be a presence in the community where people from wherever in the community can come together to worship, share a meal and have conversation together,” Gregg said. “And to build relationships.”
Berkshire Interfaith Organizing will join eight other New England collaboratives in the InterValley Project. The regional network’s principal group, Connecticut’s Naugatuck Valley Project was formed in 1983.
Berkshire Interfaith Organizing is holding a founding convention Sunday from 1 to 3 at St. Mark’s School in Pittsfield. A snow date is set for Monday from 5:30 to 7:30.
