A communicant in a zip code made up almost exclusively of white people complained about my web profiles of the parishes of the Diocese of Newark  (bold face and italics are the same in the original):
 

In these times where I believe most people of good faith are seeking to bring about healing and reconciliation, I was very dismayed to find under your heading "Ethnicity -- Lily White Neighborhoods" followed by a subheading of:   "Here are the congregations in zip codes with the fewest people of color:  In descending order, starting with the whitest."

I find this to be racist and totally reprehensible.  I don't believe your personal commentary should be tied into the Diocese of Newark website for someone searching for a haven of faith to stumble upon and be completely turned off by.

I strongly object to the content contained in Privilege and Responsibility under the designation:  Pennies:  Those with the Most who give the Least" with our parish ...... listed as #....

Whatever was your intent listing such racist rhetoric and passing such judgment?

[My parish] does not exclusively serve [the town in which it is located] nor are all our congregants making the grand sum of money that you list.  As with any congregation within the Diocese of Newark or anywhere, (for that matter), we have a microcosm of people in various economic conditions.

Speaking for myself, but also as a member of the Vestry of [my parish], I strongly suggest that you eliminate your "Lily White Neighborhoods" designation and research the true facts on your statistics on congregations, and cease denigration of parishes by demographics within the Diocese of Newark, or, at least, do not have your personal views linked with the Diocese of Newark website.

Very truly yours,
[signed]

Gentle XXXX,

Thank you for sharing your reaction to my web profiles of the racial and economic demographics of parishes in the Diocese of Newark.  While I do not publish these statistics to hurt anyone, I do publish them to goad myself and all other privileged persons to hear in them what the spirit might be saying to the churches.

"To whom much is given, much shall be required."  I didn't make that up, nor do I find it an easy prophecy as I assess my own riches in the context of the greater needs of many of my neighbors.   The demographics are one way to help me assess my responsibility.

The profiles are limited to the diocesan and census data, and those rarely give the full story.  As you rightly note, no one parish needs to be stuck in the demographics of its own zip code -- an arbitrary category of the U.S. Post Office and the Census Bureau.  To the extent that [your parish] is  not accurately defined by the demographics of [your zip code], I rejoice.  If the portion of people of color attending your services is equal to or greater than the portion of people of color who live nearby, that is good news indeed.  If you already are a parish where rich and the radically poor can move together as equals, you are indeed mirroring good news.  I offer my services to help you spread that good news on my website.

I commend to you the possibility that God may be calling [your parish], and you in particular, to initiate hospitality to those vastly different from yourselves.  For example, several parishes isolated by such demographics, have initiated exchanges of pulpits with parishes in neighborhoods of radically different demographics.   Some have moved beyond just hearing different priests to host mutual social events of whole congregations across such boundaries.   The possibilities are limited only by our vision and by our commitment.

I am `lily white.'  There is nothing categorically pejorative or racist about my acknowledging that.  It is only as I look closely at the enormous privileges that I receive solely on the basis of that status that I can begin to assess accurately my responsibility to my sisters and brothers whom the same system puts at greater risk.

I am in an upper income bracket.  There is nothing categorically pejorative or classist about my acknowledging that.  It is only as I look at the enormous privileges that I receive solely on the basis of that status that I can begin to assess accurately my responsibility and my stewardship to my sisters and brothers whom the same system puts at greater risk.

One way that I find immensely helpful is not to isolate myself with others of my race or my economic status.  That is not easy, especially in the Episcopal Church, where routinely (except in the parish I choose to attend) I find myself among more white privileged persons than I do in any other area of my life.  It often means leaving my comfortable neighborhood and moving as an equal among people vastly different from myself.  It means doing that socially, not just in the work place.  For me that begins with simple acts of hospitality, inviting into my home and into my visits to movies, plays, and other events, people whose race, class, and culture are not my own.

I find the most cogent test of my ability to move across such barriers comes not when I invite others, but when others invite me  again and again to settings where I am an `outsider' by the criteria of the world.  Then I begin to sense that they perceive me as one of them and welcome in their world.

Inevitably my acts of hospitality enrich me the most.  I don't want to live in isolation.  Any injustice done to the least of God's children is an injustice done to me, and only as I know the victims of injustice as my sisters and brothers that I can experience the injustice and begin to invest my resources and privileges into try to right the wrongs.

Pray that I will live responsibly.

Faithfully,
[signed 'Louie']

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