Nehemiah’s assembly for our community
Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem
We live in Pinellas, the most densely populated county in Florida. About 940,000 people are crammed into 280 square miles. Travel in any direction means congestion and careless drivers who speed and run red lights.
Yesterday evening, it took us about an hour to travel about 12 miles to an interfaith assembly and to enter the church that was hosting it, but the trip was worth our time and effort. We took part in FAST (Faith and Action for Strength Together), a community coalition of churches and synagogues that press elected officials to support social justice initiatives.
Our Catholic church was one of 35 congregations taking part with those of other Judeo-Christian houses of worship. Our bishop offered the closing prayer, a rabbi conducted a Holocaust-remembrance prayer and a gospel choir from a large African-American church warmed up the crowd before the event. It was a blessing to see so many people of faith in one room as part of what FAST termed a Nehemiah Assembly after the Biblical figure who restored the walls of Jerusalem and assembled the people in the Old Testament.
FAST’s leaders select a few issues each year to present to legislators for their funding and attention. This year, discipline in schools, affordable housing and issues related to crime were on the agenda. We sat with fellow parishioners to support FAST, which brings faith-based strength to its advocacy on behalf of those who are at society’s bottom rungs.
The county’s sheriff, elected officials and a representative from the school board were asked publicly to support several FAST proposals and they could only answer “yes” or “no” to each question. They could spin and explain in brief segments only. Most of the invited officials agreed to support FAST but, as a longtime resident of Pinellas who used to work in county government, it was those who didn’t attend who concerned me.
A county commissioner who supports social justice efforts still has six other commissioners who can overrule him. The same for a mayor with a city council that doesn’t agree with his or her stance. Meanwhile, affordable housing is a crisis in our overcrowded county and certain neighborhoods see eight-year-olds gunned down while they sleep because of drug thugs who rule the streets.
As the elected officials could see by scanning the pews at the church where the event was held, people of faith come in all colors and religious denominations and, yes, we vote. As one body and with God before us, we came together to speak out for social justice in our community. May we see our efforts bear fruit in a more just community for all.
