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By Rosemary Pollock
LDS Church Participates in Salt Lake Interfaith Network
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network
is alive and well and includes 76 area congregations including
Protestants, Catholics, Episcopalians, Mormons and Jews. They share
the burdens of feeding and housing the homeless, providing temporary
housing for nearly 300 families a year and even share parking lots
and trash cans.
"From such humble beginnings a friendship blossomed," said Rev. Doug
Oss, pastor of Capital Church in the City. When Our Lady of Lourdes
Elementary and Judge Memorial were in the midst of remodeling
projects they found grace among the garbage. "Rev. Campos was
inquiring about using our parking lot for their two dumpsters," Oss
recalled. "In exchange, we would have free use of them, saving us a
few bucks. We did this for about nine months. The dumpsters were
moved back onto their property...but the friendship continued."
Last month, Judge Memorial President John Norman and the school board
donated the use of the school's 1,200 seat auditorium for three days
of evangelistic meetings. "As always, in making the decision to share
facilities our desire was just to be good neighbors," said Norman.
LDS spokesman Dale Bills reports that the governing principle of the
interfaith forays is the measure of public good that the needy
receive. "We join with other religious groups in various undertakings
to oppose social ills and respond to the needy and disadvantaged," he
explained. "While our doctrinal views remain independent, we are
pleased to lend our strength to common efforts to improve our
communities."
During the past several years the Salvation Army has been the
frequent recipient of LDS charity by receiving tons of food and
clothing from the church's storehouses. In 1982 a fire destroyed the
Salvation Army's Salt Lake chapel and the church donated one of its
old ward houses.
"It is truly a miracle for our community to come together like this,"
said Salt Lake Interfaith Director Vicki Newman. "People here place
their theologies in their hearts and step out."
Source:
From Trash to Trust
Salt Lake Tribune 3Feb01 N1
By Bob Mims: Salt Lake Tribune
Dumpster problem brings Salt Lake Catholics and Protestants together
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