How to resolve AdBlock issue? In today’s climate, where people seem eager to fight about their differences, it’s refreshing to hear about those who can band together despite their differences and help those who need it. The Saratoga Springs Clergy Commission is one such group.
The clergy commission is a group of clergy and lay leaders for those traditions without clergy from local Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faith communities, as well as the New York Racing Chaplaincy; over a dozen congregations are represented. Though there have been other interfaith clergy groups over the years, the current group was started by former Mayor Joanne Yepsen in her first year in office in order to help local religious leaders be informed of the issues facing the city, and for the faith communities to let her know of the issues facing their congregations, especially those who are less fortunate, as well as to discuss possible solutions. The group has met monthly ever since, and the members take turns hosting the meetings.
An issue that was discussed early on was the need for emergency shelter during cold winter nights, especially following the December 2013 death of Nancy Pitts, a homeless woman who was found dead after sleeping outside in Saratoga Springs on such a night. When Code Blue Saratoga was launched just two weeks later, on Christmas Eve, 2013 at St. Peter’s Church, the clergy group helped to coordinate and recruit volunteers for it, and they supported the formation of a board for Code Blue as well; some of the members are currently on the Code Blue Steering Committee. The faith communities of the clergy group members have also provided meals for the shelter, arranged for services for the guests such as haircuts, and volunteered to staff the shelter. (Code Blue is an emergency shelter providing sleeping accommodations, meals, and essential supplies to individuals who are homeless during periods of hazardous winter weather. It’s a Shelters of Saratoga program.)
More recently, issues pertaining to immigration have been discussed at the meetings, especially when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were conducting raids in the city. Additionally, members have helped to organize and promote the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration weekend events, and fair trade work such as the Bosnian Handcraft Project. As Pastor Nathan Detweiler of New Life Fellowship said, “We are always looking for ways to serve and bless our fellow citizens.”
The members of the group might not always agree on solutions to problems, but as Rev. Joe Cleveland from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation explained, “Though our theologies may lead us to take different stances on some issues, this group is always discovering that there is a broad common ground that we share on issues like housing and homelessness, poverty and addiction, and more.” They also want it to be understood that the issues they try to address as a clergy group can be addressed by any concerned citizen.
The group invites a guest speaker to each meeting, and future invitations will be extended to representatives from the Saratoga Springs city schools, the city police department, and those providing services to local immigrants, in order to address topics including homelessness, substance abuse, and immigration.
Mayor Meg Kelly says she will be continuing the group.
Thanks to those clergy who provided information for this article: Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein (Temple Sinai), Reverend Joe Cleveland (Unitarian Universalist Congregation), Fr. Tom Chevalier (St. Peter’s Church), and Senior Pastor Nathan Detweiler (New Life Fellowship).
Kate can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
