St. Luke's Commitment to endorse the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness

We commit to do the following:

• PRAY for those who are experiencing homelessness and for the courage to work to end homelessness
• EDUCATE our members and our community about issues of homelessness and housing.
• HELP provide support services for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• PARTNER with other congregations in providing emergency and/or transitional housing.
• DEVELOP or contribute to the expansion of low-income units.
• OFFER material and/or "companioning" assistance to low-income providers in area.
• ADVOCATE for the expansion of resurces for affordable and supportive housing.
• WORK for the creation of living wage jobs.
• HOST/HOUSE those who are homeless.

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County may be viewed and/or downloaded at www.cehkc.org

St. Luke's Statement of Support for Tent City IV

St. Luke's Lutheran Church is hosting Tent City IV beginning February 13, 2006 for 90 days.

This confessional statement is meant to accompany the application for permit to host Tent City IV beginning the middle of February, 2006.  As the spiritual leader of this household of faith it is my pleasure to illuminate the theological justification for what has been the constitutionally mandated process that has resulted in our congregation extending an invitation to Tent City . 

Following a six month process of study and conversation a duly called congregational meeting, Dec. 4, 2005 , resulted in a supermajority of over 90% choosing to live out their faith through this act of Christian charity and justice.  It is our belief as a community of faith that we have a moral, religious and civic responsibility to care for the most vulnerable of our community regardless of popular opinion, sentiment, or political opposition.

The personality of our faith is mandated in Micah 6:8,

In the words of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ’s (ELCA) social statement on economic life, we believe that all people have the right to seek, sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all.  To that end we understand that while many are benefiting from the current economic system, a growing number are not.  Indeed, since we live in a culture that has clearly embraced the neo orthodoxy of the Reagan economic era of a “rising tide raises all boats” we too must face the truth this only works if you can afford a boat.  It is equally clear that our current political system is not friendly to the poor.  In our humble attempt to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with God it is an honor to extend hospitality to the homeless of Tent City IV.

Our concern is equally for our political and economic systems and the people who exercise power.  To quote Carl Jung, “Power is not friendly”.  The exercise of power that is meant only to maintain a way of life or insulate itself from the greater issues of justice and equity is inherently evil and is subject to God’s accounting.  The question is in what should we place our hope?  The First Commandment is clear, “You shall have no other gods before me”.  Economic systems or life styles uninterrupted by the needs of the broken and disenfranchised is an inherently dark idolatry that needs to always be challenged by a heart and spirit called to mercy and compassion.

To place our trust in wealth versus a love of God which calls us to serve the poor is particularly an onerous evil and one that must be challenged equally out of love and regard for those in power.  We tend to view economic life to how it affects us personally.  Quoting the ELCA statement on the economic life, “… Christ challenges Christians to view this arena through the experience of those who are impoverished, suffering, broken, betrayed, left out, without hope.”  The prophet Amos challenges us to be mindful of greed and unjust practices that “trample on the poor” (Amos 5:1).  Isaiah is particularly critical of those “who write oppressive statutes to turn aside the needy from justice” (Isaiah 10:1-2).  Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and wealth.  Power that is not exercised in love and compassion is dangerous, let alone not friendly.

As the founding church of the Congregations for the Homeless program on the Eastside St. Luke’s has a rich tradition for seeking creative means by which to respond to the growing needs of the impoverished and homeless in our community.  To not respond is to give the most vulnerable over to that which cannot be survived, hopelessness.  To not challenge systems that use political persuasion to escape responsibility is equally reprehensible.  To love both the poor and the powerful in both program and conversation is our hope and calling.

To these two ends we are seeking necessary permits to host Tent City IV, February 2006, and an exercise of those in power to act with compassion and dignity towards those homeless as well as those called to serve them. 

I remain available for any conversation deemed to helpful to accomplish these goals.

Thomas L. Kidd, Senior Pastor, St. Luke's Lutheran Church , Bellevue