Space-sharers help us survive, thrive, stay relevant
Gerry from Edgewater Mutual Aid Network shared about their organization’s purpose and work. Photo: Gerry Farinas.
Across the country, churches are grappling with declining attendance, shifting cultural norms, and changing relationships with faith.
Yet, at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, we see these challenges as an opportunity to return to our roots.
Built a century ago with a vision of being The New Community House, our church was always meant to be more than a place of worship—it was designed to be a center for arts, service, and advocacy.
Today, with over 25 space-sharing partners representing diverse faith traditions and secular organizations, we are embracing that founding vision anew.
By serving as an incubator for the arts, social services, and immigrant and migrant advocacy, even civil rights and LGBTQ advocacy, the Edgewater Kirk is evolving into a hub of connection and care, proving that a church can thrive—not just by filling pews on Sundays, but by opening its doors every day of the week.
Tonight, our space-sharers gathered over dinner—and the cabaret stylings of Kevin Wood at the mic—to learn more about each other and deepen our relationships in this shared space that happens to be a church building.
Our church hosts six theatre companies: City Lit, Red Theatre, Redtwist, Asterisk Arts Collective, Midsommer Flight, Imagination Theater; five artists; two writers; two musicians; eight social service organizations; one 12-step program; one after-school program; and one other worshipping community.
We have an American Baptist Church congregation; Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim groups; refugee and immigrant services serving all faith traditions and those without religion, too.
Our gymnasium and other spaces play host to Syrian refugee children to give them a place to play and study. Syrian Refugee Network after school program is a godsend for latchkey kids whose parents work.
A first floor classroom space has been turned into a Nepali senior center—bringing elders together to converse and share activities.
Every Saturday, Edgewater Mutual Aid Network (EMAN) distributes food to food insecure persons. They give out clothing to those without resources and help lift up persons hit with economic crises.
A couple groups like Alliance for Community Services fight City Hall and neighborhood stakeholders regularly—not just for affordable housing, but good housing worthy of the dignity, pride, and sense of respect people are entitled to.
Those six theater companies allow for old and new dramatic works to help us better understand various parts of the human condition and breadth of experience—sometimes touching on the angsts of our times.
The gathering tonight was a first of many to come.
Ultimately, we hope that deepening our relationships with each other will help us offer mutual support for each others’ work—and maybe jettison them off to newer, bigger platforms, leaving room for us to incubate other projects for the betterment of a world that seems on the verge of collapse sometimes.
