LOBBYING efforts on behalf of churches’ right to offer social services are finally getting the attention of Vancouver’s City Hall.

In 2004, Tenth Avenue Alliance Church applied for a building permit. City bureaucrats ordered the church to apply for a social services permit to cover the food and shelter programs it had been running for a decade. The church got a temporary permit.

Fearing this could set a precedent, restricting churches’ ability and desire to do social work, local social activist Bill Chu established Faith Communities Called to Solidarity with the Poor (FCCSP). The group has drawn together Christians,  Jews, Muslims and Sikhs.

When FCCSP’s August 17 press conference attracted national media, it evidently caught  the attention of local politicians.

Mayor Sam Sullivan met with Tenth Avenue Church leaders September 11. At a City Council meeting September 18, Councilor Raymond Louie introduced a motion in support of the FCCSP’s concerns, stating that “staff be directed to review the definition of ‘Church Use’ and the applicability of ‘Social Service Use’ with the faith community, and that interested parties be given an opportunity to address Council on this matter.”

However, councillors belonging to the mayor’s Non-Partisan Association amended the motion to state “that staff be directed to review the definition of ‘Church Use’ and the applicability of ‘Social Service Use’ with the faith community and . . . report back to Council with a memorandum on the progress made . . . on the core issues.” The amended motion passed.

FCCSP has expressed concern that the revised motion does not give its representatives an opportunity to present its concerns to City Council. However, David Hurford, director of communications for the mayor’s office, told BCCN the revised motion means that the issue will likely come back to city Council in about a month – and, in keeping with normal practice, the public – including FCCSP – would likely have an opportunity to speak to City Council then.

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Hurford also stated the mayor wants to reassure faith groups that the Tenth Avenue situation does not represent “a sweeping new policy,” and that “this is the only case in the city where this is an issue.”

He added that Sullivan “greatly values the work that faith communities are doing, and wants to see it continue.” He said solving homelessness is a top priority for the city, and that effort will require the support of everyone.

Hurford further stated the city imposed the social service permit requirement in response to concerns expressed by neighbours of the church.

He said he is confident that a management plan can be negotiated for the church’s social service work that will satisfy the city, the church, the neighbours, and “the people at risk who need help.”

The FCCSP remains unconvinced.

It held another news conference September 25 to announce that more than 2,500 people have so far signed a petition supporting the idea that “the current narrow definition of church must be expanded to include social services.”

The FCCSP has also scheduled a public ‘gathering of all faiths,’ to be held at Tenth Avenue Church, October 20, 3 pm. The stated purpose is “to celebrate our unity and common calling to be with the poor.”

At the event, updates will be given on similar caring services being offered by other faith groups in the city, and on the state of the Tenth Avenue negotiations with city hall. The keynote speaker will be Dave Diewert, a high-profile anti-poverty activist and part-time professor at Regent College.

– Jim Coggins

October 2007