Detroit: An Interfaith Response
Diocesan Press Service. August 7, 1967 [56-4]
The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, along with other major religious groups, has already begun its part in the task of relief and rehabilitation which has become necessary in the wake of the riots which hit Detroit in late July.
During the riots, the diocesan office was turned over to an interfaith committee, formed within 24 hours of the initial disturbance, for use as a command post in their efforts to minister to immediate needs of victims. Services of various persons were co-opted, including 6 social workers from the Family Service Agency who served on a 24-hour basis.
Although referrals elsewhere are now being made, four offices in the Diocesan House are still being used for relief work. It is anticipated that this will continue through the first week in August.
The interfaith committee has also begun to think of the future. They see a need to supply, in the months ahead, discretionary funds to indigenous pastors of small churches who have no large national structure to fall back on. These funds would be used primarily to meet the needs which cannot be met by public resources or any Federal program which may come into Detroit.
The committee hopes that it may continue to work on an interfaith basis in meeting the more long-range rebuilding and rehabilitation needs of the city, and to include indigenous pastors in planning. It is too early, however, to make any specific proposals.
The Diocesan House is now beginning to return to its normal operations. The Rt. Rev. Richard S. Emrich, Bishop of Michigan, no longer sees the halls and offices filled with strangers, as he did upon his hasty return from vacation. The switchboard no longer answers "interfaith center". Like others in Detroit, the staff of Diocesan House has turned again to their daily work. Much remains to be done, however, and the interfaith committee is looking to these future needs.