This is a report summarizing findings from a social analysis project of Grace Lutheran Church completed by the seminary intern, Vicar Beth Gallen. Inspired by the question: Who is Grace Lutheran Church? Vicar Beth reflects upon statistical data, member interviews and community partner/stakeholder interviews, to give an overview picture of Grace Lutheran as a faith community while offering reflections and analysis of how God has gifted this community to live out God’s mission in the neighborhood and world.
Grace Lutheran Church is a Christian community located in the Greater Downtown Phoenix area in the northeast part of the Evans Churchhill neighborhood. Phoenix Center for the Arts, the Cambria Hotel, Roosevelt Row, Margaret T. Hance Park and the Phoenix Public Library are the buildings and spaces closest to Grace’s property. These locations hold the most significance in terms of Grace’s relationship with the neighborhood. Currently, the most relevant relationship is with True North, a developer with whom the people of Grace have entered into a long-term ground lease for the construction of a parking structure on Grace’s property; construction is set to begin in the spring of 2020.
The people of Grace have many values but the two primary values that inform their life as a community are the welcome and love of all people who walk through their doors. This is evident not just in programing, but also in the hearts and stories of the people’s collective memory and is reflected in how they treat one another. These two values serve as a foundation for Grace’s communal identity, leadership and work in the neighborhood.
The area surrounding Grace Lutheran is best described as an area in transition: both people and buildings. New construction of high-rise apartments, restaurants, bars and art studios has given rise to an influx of new residents in the neighborhood. Additionally, by virtue of its downtown location and proximity to social service organizations, there is a community of people experiencing homeless who live in the areas surrounding Grace’s property. For many people experiencing homelessness, Grace Lutheran is a place of welcome, support and respite. Because Grace welcomes and loves all people, tensions with residents, organizations and other community leaders are evident. Navigating these tensions while staying committed to their values is a delicate balance. However, the people of Grace and their pastor welcome this balance and continue to challenge social and economic injustices that have come alongside the development of downtown Phoenix.
As the people of Grace look towards the future and witness the changes in the neighborhood, they are wondering where God is leading them. The community is articulating questions about how best to relate to the changing environment. When interviewing members about Grace’s history, it is clear that God has given the people of Grace gifts of listening and following the Holy Spirit. These gifts provide Grace with spiritual fortitude and courage to ask questions about the future, try out some new experiments, and navigate conflict and resistance as they seek to follow God into the future. Community partners interviewed for this project identified Grace as a place where the opportunity for collaboration and coalition between organizations, businesses and city government can be strengthened and deepened to meet the needs of the changing community. Adapting with the changing neighborhood calls for deeper relationships with the surrounding neighborhood, and the Grace community appears to recognize the need for adaptation if they are to continue to live out the mission and vision God has given them.
The people of Grace are committed to their physical location in the neighborhood, as their mission statement clearly states: “By God’s grace, we are in the city for good!” and as the neighborhood continues to develop there are concerns over maintaining and preserving the church building. Key to discerning God’s future for Grace Lutheran will include conversations about the building and its relationship to the mission and vision. The partnership with True North is one way the people of Grace are exploring God’s future for them while providing financial security to fund its various commitments, ministries and programs. Whether the partnership with True North will serve as a template for developing and nurturing relationships and partnerships with other neighborhood organizations and businesses remains to be seen. Finally, how God is calling the people of Grace to deepen their partnerships in the neighborhood is an area worth further prayer, discernment, experimentation and reflection.