Who Is My Neighbor?

Here is a snapshot of the 310,000 people who live within a three-mile radius of First United Church.
• Race ---We are diverse: 44 percent African American; 27 percent Anglo; 25 percent Latino and 4 percent Asian.
• Age--- We are young: 29 percent are between 9 and 28 years old, 30 percent between 29 and 49 years old; and our senior population is 20 percent smaller than the national average.
• Education---Many are well-educated. In Oak Park itself, two-thirds of the population has at least a college education. In the larger, three-mile radius, only 24 percent of the people have a college degree.
• Marital status---More of us are single and less are married than the national average. There are 56 percent more single mothers with children in our community than the national average.
• Income---This varies greatly. In Oak Park itself, the average household income is over $90,000. In the larger radius, the average income is $68,000.
• Faith---We are believers: 83 percent believe in God. One-third are strongly involved in a church; one-third are somewhat involved; and one-third are not involved in a faith community. The largest group is Catholic (29 percent); followed by Lutheran (13 percent); Methodist (10 percent); Presbyterian or UCC (5 percent) and Jewish (2 percent).
• Major social issues of concern---gangs, affordable housing, racial prejudice, crime and safety, social injustice, employment dissatisfaction (including unemployment).
Our church staff, leaders and Faith in Action committee have been studying these demographics over the summer. What can we discern about where God is calling us to lead, to serve and to seek justice, based on the needs in our own neighborhood?
The FIA committee determined in July that its primary mission is to be advocates for struggling, low-income people in our local community. Within three miles of our front doors, the largest “lifestyle” group is struggling black households, which represent 18 percent of all households.
It’s a question we all need to ask: How are we being called to love our neighbors? When we plan our church activities, we often wonder, “What are our needs?” Instead, let’s start asking, “What needs to be changed to make this a just society? How can this community be helped to conform to the will of God?” And let’s look at systems, policies, advocacy and programs, rather than simply serving individuals in need.
Check the church website for information about justice training to be offered here in October by the Community Renewal Society in Chicago. It’s all about living God’s vision: moving from charity to changing structures of injustice.