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Boston Conference on Faith-Based Partnerships
Examines Use of Federal Funding

(Boston, MA) More than 300 leaders of faith and community based organizations in the greater Boston area recently converged on New Covenant Christian Church in Mattapan to explore how to use federal funds to transform under-served communities. The daylong event coincided with nearly one million dollars in funding allocated by The Black Ministerial Alliance (BMA)and its partners to youth serving organizations in Boston through the Boston Capacity Tank.*

Called “Strengthening the Village to Build Community Partnerships,” the conference was hosted by the BMA, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Boston Ten Point Coalition and the Emmanuel Gospel Center. BMA President Bishop Gilbert Thompson of New Covenant Christian Church in Mattapan said, "It was encouraging to witness so many faith-based organizations and community-based organizations working together with funding organizations to strategize around how better to improve the quality of life for Boston area residents."

Special guests and presenters included Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, representatives of the Boston Police Department, Reverend Eugene Rivers, III, of Azusa Christian Community, Rev. Dr. Sylvia R. Johnson of the Hyams Foundation and Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond of Bethel AME Church.

“Faith-based community organizing.”
Keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Michael Franklin Jr., an author and Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics at Emory University in Atlanta, challenged
attendees to move forward to “faith-based community organizing.”

He said, “…as congregations become involved in the comprehensive transformation of communities (the quality of their political leadership, the quantity and responsiveness of their business enterprises, the richness of their cultural institutions, the safety of their streets, the quality of their educational institutions, and so on, something fascinating occurs. ….People grow and become authentic moral agents and better citizens. They become people who care about the next generation…”

Dr. Franklin’s insightful remarks stemmed from his background as a scholar-preacher and educator as well as a former seminary program administrator and foundation executive.

Much of the day’s dialogue focused on how private funders, locally and nationally, have begun to partner with faith-based institutions to meet common goals, such as creating affordable housing and job opportunities, educating youth, reducing crime and addressing health needs. Now, there is growing interest at the federal level in providing public funding for the secular activities of faith-based institutions.

While controversial, the possibility of increased public sector funding raises numerous questions. These issues prompted local faith and community based organizations to come together to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of building the capacity of faith-based organizations, to highlight successful interfaith models, and to explore the implications of increased public sector funding.

About the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston
The Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston (BMA), established in the early 1960s, is an alliance of over 80 faith-based and community-based organizations with a 40-year history of serving the Black community in Boston. The BMA’s mission is to provide spiritual nurture for clergy, and advocacy and program services for the larger Black community. As part of its mission, the BMA demonstrates its ability to create positive change in the Boston area.

Today, the BMA is one of the most diverse and active organizations in the city. The BMA has active participation from churches representing over 20,000 parishioners. We are a convener of resources, acting as a clearinghouse that collects and redistributes funds and technical assistance to build the capacity and strengthen faith-based and community organizations. Current investments in the BMA have served over 106 faith-based and community-based organizations which in turn have impacted over 26,000 youth and families in Boston’s poorest neighborhoods.

*For more details on the BMA and Boston Capacity Tank grantees in your neighborhood, go to www.bmaboston.org