News
MADISON, Wisconsin – The Reverend Bishop Morlino of the Madison Diocese visited Care Net on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 surrounded by children of various ages who have lived in The Elizabeth House. Care Net staff and volunteers were grateful for the opportunity to pray with the bishop. The children received a blessing from Bishop Morlino.
The day after the March 6 shooting death of Tony Robinson, dozens of clergy members gathered at Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church to pray. The group’s composition crossed all boundaries — racial, ethnic, denominational, theological. “You just don’t have that every day in Madison,” said the Rev. Paula Harris, pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Madison and one of those present. The gathering became the impetus for an interfaith clergy coalition, one that continues to meet and whose value became publicly evident on May 12.
Hundreds of people, including many of Madison’s top business and community leaders, gathered Friday night to hear how a group of influential African-American residents calling themselves the Justified Anger coalition plans to lead a broad-based attack on pronounced racial disparities in the city. The event at the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall felt like a party early on, with tables of refreshments and music from a neo-soul band. It turned serious as the Rev. Alex Gee, the effort’s leader, issued a fervent call to action.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEA) — A budget amendment may put to rest an ongoing clash between religion and government. Amish families in Wisconsin would be exempt from building codes they say go against their religion under a provision in the state budget added by the Legislature’s budget committee.
The sun shone brightly in a bright blue sky for the Sunday morning worship service at Brat Fest. Last year, that is. This year, not so much. A small crowd of about 75 was welcomed by Never Claim, a Christian band from Portland as the worship service began at the Lifest stage. By the end of the service two, maybe three times that number had gathered, huddled under umbrellas. Last year the first community worship service at Brat Fest drew a crowd of about 1,000.
Madison-based InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has announced that InterVarsity President Alec Hill has been diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a cancer of the bone marrow, which requires rigorous treatment. As a result of this news, Alec will enter cancer treatment on June 10. The InterVarsity Board of Trustees will meet in early June, at which point an interim president will be appointed.
The Rev. Leonard Thompson Sr., the recently arrived interim pastor of Mr. Zion Baptist Church, could have lived anywhere when he moved to Madison. He and his wife chose an apartment two blocks from Mt. Zion, impressing many church members. The church is on the city’s South Side, in a neighborhood with high rates of poverty and unemployment. Thompson, 63, said he was not attempting to make any grand political statement with his housing choice, he just liked the convenience.
One day, you’re trying to refurbish a building on South Ingersoll Street that once was an upholstery shop, but had fallen into disrepair. Next thing you know, the renovated building, called Luke House, has served millions of free meals, provided with help from thousands of volunteers through the Community Meal Program, and three decades have come and gone. “How did that happen?” Paul Ashe said this week.
MADISON, Wis — A local organization that is run completely through donations has been providing mothers who are going through a rough patch in their lives a safe place to stay with their baby. “Jennifer,” a young mother, spent some time at the Elizabeth house because she found out her father’s house was facing foreclosure. She wanted to find a place for herself and her unborn child.
On Friday May 8th an unprecedented meeting of faith leaders was held in the Madison Urban Ministry offices. We came together over the systemic injustices that exist in our County and out of concern for our community. We know that as clergy and people of faith we are called across traditions to work for justice. Our meeting on May 8th represents the beginning of our work as a faith coalition, we recognize that there is much, much more to be done and we pledge to continue Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12th at 2:30 p.m. the District Attorney will announce his decision regarding the officer involved shooting…