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EDNY Churches Prepare for GOP Delegates By Neva Rae Fox |
The Rev. Jim Burns,
Heavenly Rest The Republican National Convention is scheduled to overtake New York City August 30 to September 2, marking the first time that the city has hosted the RNC (according to the organization’s Web site). Just how many will be coming to New York City for the Convention? Latest reports indicate city officials expect 50,000: 2,509 delegates and 2,344 alternates, GOP leaders, elected officials, global media, families, supporters, demonstrators, protestors, observers and, of course, the President and Vice President of the United States. (And that doesn’t include the other visitors to NYC who are not associated with the convention.) The main site of the convention will be Madison Square Garden on Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street, in the heart of Midtown. However, activities and people will cover all of Manhattan Island. Mix that many people, including the President, with a post-September 11 world and a continuing war, and you get discussions of the possibility of unrest and terrorism. Billboards and advertisements stress the need to be vigilant. Protests are scheduled for nearly every day of the Convention, with the first on August 29. Demonstrations in support of the President also are scheduled. The Rev. Douglas Ousley of Incarnation, Manhattan, voiced a concern held by many: “I must say that I am anxious about the possibility of violent demonstrations.” City officials are quick to assure that there will be peace, as noted in press postings: “Every precaution possible will be taken to help ensure that New York hosts a safe and successful Convention. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has designated both the Democrat and Republican conventions as National Security Special Events. Security for both conventions will be coordinated with the United States Secret Service, FEMA, NYPD, the FBI, various state and local law enforcement authorities, and other relevant organizations.” Welcoming the Strangers
in Our Midst During the convention, prominent signs and banners will welcome guests at airports, Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and other key locales, including some of our churches. The Episcopal Diocese of New York has requested the names of those who may be serving as delegates. As of press time, one lay person at a Manhattan church was identified a delegate and other Diocesan parishioners have expressed interest in volunteering at the multi-day event. Maureen Shea, Director of the Government Relations Office for the Episcopal Church based in Washington, DC, was also seeking the names of Episcopal Democratic and Republic delegates, in order to provide them with information about churches and services in the host cities. “We are also interested in reaching out to Episcopal delegates at both conventions and hope to have an opportunity to meet them so that they might know of our work on behalf of resolutions passed at our own General Conventions and by Executive Council,” Shea stated in an e-mail that reached hundreds across the country. A sampling of the Manhattan churches in the Diocese proves that the statement, “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You,” rings true. Some churches have reached out directly to the GOP and some have slated special services. However, all stress that GOP visitors are very welcome. Holy Apostles, located in the shadow of Madison Square Garden, has worked with the RNC Host Committee to invite delegates to volunteer in the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, which recently has been feeding 1100 to 1300 daily, and some delegates will be visiting the ministry on Tuesday, August 31. “We look forward to welcoming them and also to having them interact with our hungry and homeless guests,” noted the Rev. Elizabeth Maxwell, associate rector at the church. Maxwell also said that the Rev. William Greenlaw, rector at Holy Apostles, has been meeting with the NYC Department of Homeless Services, the NYPD and other Midtown outreach services “to discuss concerns about being able to keep providing vital services to our most vulnerable neighbors in the climate of incredibly heightened security that the Convention will bring.” She explained, “Holy Apostles is not in the ‘frozen zone,’ but we are close enough that we expect our staff, volunteers and of course guests (who often have no ID) to be seriously impacted. “It is not yet clear what exactly will happen,” she stressed. “We hear rumors of ‘sweeps’ of the homeless, for example, and it will certainly be difficult for folks with no ID to move around in this area during that week. We also hear that when federal law enforcement officials arrive, the rules will probably change.” On Sunday, August 29, Archdeacon Taimalelagi F. Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, the Anglican Observer to the United Nations, will preach at Holy Apostles and lead a parish forum. Holy Apostles plans to keep the church open every evening during the Convention “so that those who are in town to protest will have a place of hospitality close to [Madison Square] Garden,” Maxwell said. “We will provide water, coffee and snacks, bathrooms and a place to rest and reflect and talk. Members of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, which shares our space, are joining with our parishioners to help staff this effort. Every evening we will close with a simple, interfaith prayer service.” Maxwell concluded, “Basically, we are trying to extend genuine hospitality to the RNC delegates as well as protesters, while at the same time finding ways to witness to the disastrous impact of some of the policies of the Bush Administration on the soup kitchen guests we serve daily, on us as New Yorkers who experienced terrorism firsthand, and on people in Iraq and elsewhere who suffer in war.” Ousley, noting that Incarnation is close by on 35th Street, observed, “While we are one of the closest churches to Madison Square Garden, we have nothing special planned. During the last Democratic Convention, a few delegates worshipped with us and were of course welcomed, as any Republican delegates will be welcomed this summer. We do plan to be open extended hours, and staff vacations have been rearranged so that we are all here if needed.” Trinity, Wall Street, will be adorned with signs at both the church and St. Paul’s Chapel welcoming the GOPers. Bishop Herb Donovan, interim vicar, reported, “We’re working with the local hosts for the Republican National Convention to worship with us on Sunday morning, August 29, especially the four state delegations staying at the Millenium [Hilton Hotel] next door to St. Paul’s Chapel.” “Although we haven’t scheduled services specifically for the Republic National Convention, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine welcomes RNC delegates and attendees to our all services, as well as visitors to NYC throughout the summer,” commented Dean James Kowalski. “We are working with the city government to offer the Cathedral as an ideal and important point on a tour of New York, and we look forward to hosting delegates and their families during their visit to The Big Apple.” “Attendees of all sorts, and not just delegates, at the Republican National Convention will be welcome at St. Ignatius, as all people are,” noted the Rev. Gaylord Hitchcock, Rector. While Epiphany is not planning a special service, “I would hope that every member of the convention worships someplace on Sunday,” commented the Rev. Canon Andrew Mullins. Gatherings St. Mary’s Manhattanville is a sponsoring organization of Stonewalk, the pulling of a 1400-pound granite memorial honoring the unknown civilians killed in the war. The walk is sponsored by September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group of 120 family members of 9/11 victims, in conjunction with The Peace Abbey, a multi-faith retreat center. Stonewalk arrives in the Diocese on August 25 and will be in Manhattan during the convention. Commission
of Religious Leaders Getting
Around the City Details seem to change daily, and, as of press time announced plans were: Penn Station and city subways are expected to remain operating as usual. However, current plans call for all train riders — Amtrak, LIRR, New Jersey Transit, subway — to exit Penn Station only one way — onto Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street. An express bus system, called GOP Liberty Express, has been created to transport the convention attendees, using pre-designated travel lanes. There will be a series of street closures during the convention. Plans call for Seventh Avenue to be limited to one lane in front of Madison Square Garden. News media organizations have promised on-going reports on transit news and street closures. Note: The Diocesan Offices will be open during the RNC.
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