Florida Religious Coalition Confronts Community Issues

 Fighting Against Injustice Towards Harmony (FAITH) is a four year old, 1000 member coalition of clergy and concerned religious community members from Volusia County, Florida, that has united twenty-three racially, religiously, and economically diverse congregations in its efforts to identify community problems and request direct support from community officials.

FAITH advocates social change and assistance for the downtrodden, acting as "a bridge between the black and white community," says the Reverend David Troxler of First Christian Church of Daytona Beach and a member of FAITH's crime and drug committee. Although Troxler's committee has had difficulty finding support from area commissioners, it did succeed in establishing a substance abuse treatment program at the county jail.

After researching solutions to the issues, members meet with officials and hold rallies asking them for straightforward yes-or-no answers to their requests for support. Rally participants, guided by designated applause coaches in the aisles, cheer for yes answers, while no answers lead members to rethink their strategies.

The coalition's unconventional approach has caused some unsupportive responses from such officials as Daytona Beach City Manager Richard Quigley, who called the group "adversarial." The Halifax Medical Center that sent a written response criticizing FAITH's approach in requesting improvements in primary care services for the uninsured.

Member Annabelle O'Neil, council president of Faith Lutheran Church in Ormond Beach, says of FAITH's no-rhetoric demands, "Have you ever heard a politician answer a question? We're making them say yes or no and they don't like that. FAITH wants the best community possibly where everyone can reap the benefits."

Despite critics, some officials have formed positive relationships with FAITH, such as Chris Colwell, the assistant superintendent of Volusia County schools, or George Burden, a FAITH member who served as Daytona Beach City Commissioner for eight years.

"I'm very impressed with the movement," says Burden. "It's a powerful method in my view to engage people in issues."

(7/16/2004)