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North Lawndale churches: Are they causingmore harm than good?

Some pastors say there's a huge need; critics say they're stifling economic growth

May 17, 2009|By Ofelia Casillas and Margaret Ramirez, TRIBUNE REPORTERS

Along the busiest corridors of Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, a battle is quietly ragingbetween the sacred and the sinful, God's storefront churches and the streets.

In this community, which is believed to have the city's highest concentration of storefrontchurches, scenes of drug addiction, prostitution and despair unfold, often right outside the churchdoor. During weeknight Bible study sessions, drug dealers loiter and prostitutes pace. On Sundaymornings, noisy alcoholics sometimes burst into services, which has led some churches to lock

their doors.

With the nation in the grips of a dire economic recession, storefront churches in neglectedAfrican-American neighborhoods like North Lawndale are increasingly being called on tostrengthen their traditional role as lifelines for the community.

But some local business leaders question whether the area's nearly 200 churches, mainlystorefronts, are causing more economic harm than spiritual good. Some debate whether havingso many non-profit, tax-exempt entities on commercial properties is hurting the tax base andstanding in the way of job creation.

There is also concern among leaders, including some pastors, that churches are not doing enoughto help heal the poverty that sometimes drives people to crime.

Others, however, say churches in struggling neighborhoods should not be alone in shoulderingthe responsibility. They argue that churches can serve as vital sanctuaries in hard times and thatmore involvement by churches -- not less -- is needed.

The sheer number of churches upon churches in North Lawndale is so striking that residentshave another name for the neighborhood. "We oftentimes call North Lawndale 'the communityof 1,000 churches,'" said Brenda Palms Barber, executive director of the North LawndaleEmployment Network. "... That is a manifestation of a community struggling with challenges.

The economy is one of them -- the leading one."

Palms Barber praised churches and even struck a partnership with United Baptist Church increating a job program for ex-cons. Yet she wondered whether moving churches off commercialstreets like West Roosevelt Road could trigger economic growth.

"Churches serve a role, and you don't want to slow that kind of growth or stifle the churches'ability to minister," she said. "At the same time, there are vacant lots in North Lawndale. There

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could be other places the churches could relocate and have more space to increase their outreachand ministries."

In interviews with business leaders and more than a dozen pastors, emotions ranging fromfrustration to anger arose on the sensitive issue of whether there are too many churches in North

Lawndale. Pastors also expressed differences about whether a church with limited resourcesshould serve its own members or minister to the suffering in the neighborhood.

Rev. Wilson Daniels, pastor of United Baptist Church, laughed when asked whether thedisproportionate number of churches might be stifling economic growth.

"It's amazing that people seldom say that until a church opens up. A place could be vacant foryears, nobody does anything, they don't put nothing in it, then all of a sudden when a churchopens up, it's criticized," Daniels said.

For Rev. Terence Raven, pastor of Inspired Body of Christ Baptist Church, the problem is clear:

"I don't think there are too many churches. I think there are too many churches not doing whatthey need to do."

Ald. Sharon Dixon (24th), who grew up in North Lawndale, said she would like to see morepastors become engaged in terms of safety and cleanliness.

Dixon and some pastors said a reason for the neighborhood's economic woes is that youngpeople tend to move away, instead of staying to invest in homes or businesses.

"Let's keep praying. Let's continue to be spiritual and acknowledge God and all those things,"Dixon said. "But we also have to bring businesses to the area so we can create job opportunities

and make sure people can feed their families and contribute to society and feel good about that."

Storefront churches trace back to the Great Migration when millions of African-Americansmoved from the South to Northern cities, said University of Chicago sociologist OmarMcRoberts. These newcomers had little money to open businesses, so they used storefronts tostart small, intimate worship spaces that resembled their hometown churches. Most NorthLawndale churches are Baptist and Pentecostal, with congregations ranging from 20 to 200members.

"Churches are not really blocking development. They're a symptom of the lack of development,"he said. "Now the question that comes up ... is what are these institutions doing to help turn these

neighborhoods around?"

With the birth of black civil rights organizations in the 1960s that formed to serve communities,McRoberts said many churches looked inward and shifted their focus from activist work toserving their members.

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At the Plain Talk Missionary Baptist Church, which stands on Roosevelt Road, Rev. JamesMcClain said that although his congregation does no community outreach, he does invite all tohear the word of God.

"What else can you do except open your doors, invite people to come in and hear what God

said?" McClain said.

Other pastors, who are more active in the community, expressed frustration when asked whetherthere were too many churches and said more pressing issues were being ignored.

Rev. Thomas Harris of Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church said: "That area is not a thrivingarea. There are a number of empty stores for people to start businesses."

"What about all the liquor stores?" said Rev. Lawrence Houser of Tiberia Baptist Church. "Iwish there were more churches and less liquor stores."

Vivian Terry of Tiberia added: "Until they do something about the liquor stores, we have to bethe light."

Rev. Marshall Hatch, who leads a coalition of West Side churches, said pastors have discussedthe "proliferation of places with church signs on them."

"We know of some churches, storefront and otherwise, that are doing great work, and there aresome that are not doing much ... in terms of social value," Hatch said.

At Inspired Body of Christ, Raven pushes members to help the community. After somemembers' cars were vandalized, Raven hired homeless people to patrol the vacant lot. A recent

addition at the church is Rev. Wayne Hall, a preacher with a howling, soulful voice who washomeless and is now trying to get back on his feet.

Church member Karen Coleman said the pastor often talks about the difference between activemembers and bench members.

"He was involved in the gun buyback programs. He walks up and down the street and talks topeople hanging outside liquor stores," she said. "His actions have made me get more involvedthan I have ever been in any church."

Despite criticism about the abundance of churches, Rev. Lawrence Ward of Sunshine Missionary

Baptist Church said if one church can't help, another can. "There is a huge need for souls to besaved. ... It's our job to help," Ward said.

ocasillas@tribune.com maramirez@tribune.com Business of saving souls: Lawndale churches try to refine roles: chicagotribune.com/storefronts