Happy Interdependence!

One of the great joys of ecumenical life is watching for – and working toward – interdependence. In the United States, we are socialized for independence: rugged individualism, making and having our own way, “pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps,” and the like. The Christian family tree has its many branches in part because of movements of disconnection and schism. In a time of disconnection and fracture, we wanted to bring you some words of hopeful connection.

Author and theorist adrienne maree brown says, “the idea of interdependence is that we can meet each other’s needs in a variety of ways, that we can truly lean on others and they can lean on us.” Ecumenism is full of complexities, but at its best, it helps us practice mutual reliance and hospitality. Our work toward unity is because we know that we cannot be whole without one another. Take a moment to let these stories from our staff wash over your heart. At the end, we have an invitation for you to join the chorus of witnesses to interdependence. – Rev. Kerri Parker, WCC Executive Director

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Perhaps the greatest joy and satisfaction I find with my work is watching how our partners come together to make good things happen. Every conversation I have with individuals, congregational leadership teams, resettlement agencies, or other organizations leads to some new connection, action or new ideas that I can pass along. When all the Afghan evacuees from August 2021 are resettled, over 1,000 will be living in Wisconsin communities. Such an effort stands no chance at success without all of us working together. With volunteers, donors, and professionals across the spectrum of care, faith communities, non-profit organizations, government at all levels, and community partners of every sector, we see a beautiful image of interdependence in seeking solutions. – Rev. Peder Johanson, Afghan Refugee Response

Members of UCC, Lutheran, Jewish, Methodist, AME, Baptist, Methodist, and Unitarian congregations will partner on July 10 for voter outreach in areas of Madison with low voter turn-out. Each canvasser will be paired with someone from a congregation other than their own to make door-to-door visits. The nonpartisan get-out-the-vote effort aims to encourage, inform, and assist eligible voters to participate in the August 9th primary election. It is organized by the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign, a partnership of the Wisconsin Council of Churches and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, together with the League of Women Voters-Dane County. – Dr. Peter Bakken, Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign

For the past year, every Monday afternoon, representatives of faith-based advocacy organizations in Wisconsin have met together online to build relationships and imagine how best to work toward futures that build up community and sustain people for long-term efforts rooted in faith. Our dreaming together has birthed statewide networks to support educators and work toward health equity. Our life experiences, professional roles, geographies and faith practices are varied, but we share a commitment to Beloved Community. Our conversations are frank and open, we learn from one another and we share responsibility for the work. We’ve built a deep well of trust and have begun to coordinate in ways we hadn’t previously. — Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director

Awaken Dane brings together churches to listen to what God is up to in their members’ neighborhoods while building relationships among participants. Recently, I heard excitement in a participant’s voice as they talked about how their congregation was partnering with another congregation in their neighborhood for some upcoming events. These congregations are less than a mile apart but had never worked together until this year when they spent time forming relationships and getting to know each other through Awaken Dane. – Rev. Breanna Illéné on behalf of Deaconess Johnna Georgia, Awaken Dane 

My role at the Council involves listening, asking questions, and looking for creative partners. In affordable housing conversations with our statewide connections at Wisconsin Partners, I have realized how often this conversation is happening in our networks: Recently I visited with a pastor involved in Awaken Dane and learned her church had land set aside to build affordable housing; our refugee volunteer coordinator is continually hearing from resettlement agencies that finding affordable housing for new residents of Wisconsin is a critical problem; I hear stories of congregations discerning what to do with their properties; I even hear about it when I’m not working and talk to friends who are moving. This is a problem that is affecting so many and there are resources present throughout our networks. We are invited to ask how God is connecting us together to create solutions in our communities. – Rev. Breanna Illené, Ecumenical Innovation

In my work with leaders and congregations, I notice that interdependence is something that does not come naturally to us. The way we have defined “success,” in accordance with cultural values, demands and rewards independence. Most of the things we call collaborative are more parallel play or sporadic play dates with other leaders and congregations rather than full-on interdependent work. But there is a growing understanding that this model is inhumane, unsustainable, and dare I say, unfaithful, to the values we espouse as Christians, namely to be in relationship with others in deep and abiding ways as God abides and values us. So my work has as a primary goal to build networks and form relationships toward interdependence. We just finished 6 weeks of Pastor Prophet Priest conversation cohorts where pastoral leaders from different denominations came together for focused time to discuss vocation and ministry. We de-siloed ourselves and practiced listening to the experiences of others. We found many things in common, and we named some important differences that contribute to a diverse and colorful landscape of Christian ministry across Wisconsin. – Rev. Libby Howe, Congregational Support for Peace & Justice Ministries

In the Community Health Program, I work alongside Wisconsin Council of Churches partners Multi-Cultural Communication Committee (MCC), led by Lisa Cruz, President/Ceo of Red Shoes, Inc, and Gina Roberts, the Marketing Assistant. The MCC is a movement created to acknowledge racial biases and proactively reach diverse populations with meaningful communication and actionable services to remove barriers, elevate all voices, and foster community engagement. As I work on connecting Churches and Care providers to host a clinic, we come together to make sure the unvaccinated receive the help and health information they need to live a better life. – Ms. Angela Hicks, Small Metro Field Coordinator

I am working with Melissa Moore, Program Specialist, and Michelle Cahoon, Health Nurse/Coordinator from the Taylor County Health Department. Also, Michelle Grimm, Community Development Educator from the Extension University of Wisconsin-Madison on how to build a more inclusive community: how to outreach the Hispanic, Plain, and farming communities. We are looking for the possibility of partnering with neighboring counties. I have been able to translate and reach the Hispanic community to encourage them to get vaccinated. We are trying to focus on how we can maximize and leverage the resources and relationships we currently have and how to build our capacity to grow and change as needed. – Mrs. Angelica Espinoza, Outstate Field Coordinator

I think my favorite story of interdependence at the WCC is actually the working relationship between staff members, Angela Hicks and Angelica Espinoza. They live at least five hours apart from one another, and yet they find ways to work together on clinics around the state, even getting together when clinics happen in places like Oshkosh or Green Bay. They truly complement one another, and it is so rewarding to watch them bring out the best in each other. – Rev. Dan Schultz, Community Health Program